Fighting Illini golfer Jackson Buchanan ranked 6th in PGA Preseason Top-25

CHAMPAIGN - During his junior season, Jackson Buchanan contributed significantly to the University of Illinois golf team's success, helping the team advance to match play at the 2024 NCAA Championship. Now a senior, the rising star on the golf team, who has established himself as a standout athlete and scholar, has earn national recognition from the PGA.

Today, the preseason PGA TOUR University Class released the 2025 rankings, listing Buchanan in the #6 spot. Buchanan, the reigning Big Ten Golfer of the Year, will return for his final collegiate season in 2024-25 in just a few weeks from now. Apart from his college commitments, Buchanan has also left a mark in major golf tournaments, having made notable appearances in the U.S. Open, the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour, and the Memorial Health Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour this summer.

Buchanan's ranking in the PGA TOUR University reflects his potential to transition into professional golf, following in the footsteps of previous Illinois standouts who have excelled in collegiate and professional ranks. The #1 player in the final PGA TOUR University Ranking next May will earn PGA TOUR membership, while players #2-5 (fully exempt) and #6-10 (conditional) will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2025. Additionally, players #6-25 will earn fully exempt membership for the North America Swing of PGA TOUR Americas in 2025.

In addition to being named 2024 Big Ten Golfer of the Year, he earned accolades as a third-team GCAA All-American, and an honorable mention All-American by GolfWeek. Buchanan was also unanimously selected to the first team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive year.

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