When you think of SEC golf royalty, Jackson Van Paris' name is quickly rising to the top of the list. The former Vanderbilt Commodore standout has brought his championship pedigree to this week's inaugural Colonial Life Charity Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour, and golf fans with SEC ties are taking notice.
Van Paris arrives on the professional stage with a resume that reads like a highlight reel. During his time at Vanderbilt, he earned two-time Second Team All-SEC honors and was a two-time GCAA Division I PING All-Region selection. He capped off his collegiate career with honorable mention All-American status in 2024, proving he could compete with the best in the country. But Van Paris wasn't just a force on the course—he excelled in the classroom too, earning SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition twice and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.
By his senior season, 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 sitting at No. 8 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 played a key role in Vanderbilt's team success, helping the Commodores pile up 11 team championships during his four-year career. His 70.53 career scoring average stands as the second-best mark in school history—a testament to his consistency and skill. But SEC fans may already recognize the name from outside college golf.
Long before his Vanderbilt days, Van Paris was already making waves. 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. Now, as he takes his talents to the Korn Ferry Tour, all eyes are on this young star to see how far his game can take him.