Vanderbilt's Jackson Van Paris brings SEC success to Korn Ferry

TL;DR

Jackson Van Paris, a former Vanderbilt golfer, is making waves on the Korn Ferry Tour after a successful collegiate career. He was a two-time All-SEC selection and a top amateur golfer, contributing significantly to Vanderbilt's golf program.

Key points

Jackson Van Paris is a former Vanderbilt golfer.
He is now competing on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Van Paris was a two-time Second Team All-SEC selection.
He achieved a scoring average of 69.63 in his senior season.
Van Paris contributed to 11 team championships at Vanderbilt.

Mentioned in this story

Vanderbilt University

Jackson Van ParisKorn Ferry TourNCAA Amherst Regional

For golf fans with ties to the SEC, one name in this week’s inaugural Colonial Life Charity Classic field should stand out: former Vanderbilt Commodore standout Jackson Van Paris. Van Paris arrived on the Korn Ferry Tour boasting one of the most decorated résumés of any recent SEC golfer. He seamlessly combined his standout collegiate achievements at Vanderbilt with his status as one of amateur golf’s most promising young stars, carrying that reputation well into his professional career on the Korn Ferry Tour.

The former Commodore capped off his Vanderbilt career as a two-time Second Team All-SEC selection and a two-time GCAA Division I PING All-Region honoree, as well as earning honorable mention All-American status in 2024. Van Paris also excelled in the classroom at Vanderbilt, earning SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition twice and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition.

By his senior season as a Commodore, Van Paris had established himself as one of the top amateur golfers in the world. He posted a team-best 69.63 scoring average during the 2024-25 season, recorded six top-10 finishes, and climbed as high as No. 4 in the PGA TOUR University rankings while ranking eighth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. His biggest collegiate moment came in 2025 when he captured medalist honors at the NCAA Amherst Regional, firing an 8-under-par 202 to secure one of two individual titles during his Vanderbilt career.

Van Paris also helped Vanderbilt pile up trophies for the golf program, contributing to 11 team championships during his four-year career while posting a 70.53 career scoring average, the second-best mark in school history. But SEC fans may already recognize the name from outside college golf.

Long before Vanderbilt, Van Paris had already started carving out a name for himself. At just 14 years old, he became the youngest player since legendary golfer Bobby Jones in 1916 to win a match at the U.S. Amateur Championship, earning a dramatic 1-up victory at Pebble Beach a week before his 15th birthday. After finishing No. 5 in the 2025 PGA TOUR University rankings, Van Paris secured an exempt Korn Ferry Tour membership. He’s now chasing the next step in his golf journey, giving SEC fans another familiar face to cheer for in Elgin this week.

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Q&A

What achievements did Jackson Van Paris have at Vanderbilt?

Jackson Van Paris was a two-time Second Team All-SEC selection, a two-time GCAA Division I PING All-Region honoree, and earned honorable mention All-American status in 2024.

How did Jackson Van Paris perform in his senior season at Vanderbilt?

In his senior season, Van Paris had a team-best scoring average of 69.63, recorded six top-10 finishes, and ranked as high as No. 4 in the PGA TOUR University rankings.

What impact did Jackson Van Paris have on Vanderbilt's golf program?

Van Paris contributed to 11 team championships during his four years at Vanderbilt and holds the second-best career scoring average in school history at 70.53.