Kentucky softball takes two out of three games against Auburn.
After a slow start in SEC play, the Kentucky softball team has now won two consecutive series against SEC opponents. Last week, they won two of three versus the Georgia Bulldogs, and this past weekend, they took two out of three games against the Auburn Tigers.
In game one, the Cats fell behind 2 – 0, but Peyton Plotts answered in the fifth inning with a go-ahead three-run homerun. Taylor Ebbs stayed red hot, and homered in the seventh and Kentucky won 5 – 2.
Game two was a pitching duel. Syndey Langdon went all seven innings, surrendering just two hits and one run. Karissa Hamilton supplied the runs, driving in the only two Kentucky scored, but it held up. Kentucky won it 2 – 1.
The final game was played on Monday. Erin Coffel hit a solo homerun to put the Wildcats up early, but that would be all for the offense. Auburn would tie it in the second inning, and go on to win it 4 – 1.
Kentucky’s record now stands at 29 – 16 overall, and 7 – 11 in conference play. Another SEC opponent is up next when they Cats host South Carolina for a three-game set. Game one is Friday at 6:30 PM ET.
The Auburn men’s golf team has never had a golfer like Koivun.
The Auburn men’s golf team has never had a golfer like Jackson Koivun.
Although he’s only a freshman and hasn’t even completed his inaugural season in college, Koivun is making his mark as one of the best Tigers in program history. He had one of the best regular seasons in team history, and he’s prepared to lead the top-ranked Tigers into the SEC Championship and NCAA postseason.
All he has to do is continue to play like he has in his first 10 events.
Look no further than the Auburn record books, which is going to need plenty of updating after this season.
Just in Auburn’s 10 regular-season events, Koivun has set the freshman records for top-10 finishes (9), rounds in the 60s (13) and sub-par rounds (21).
But forget just freshman records. Koivun is on pace to break the single-season scoring average mark (he’s at 69.47; the old mark is Brendan Valdes at 70.03 last year); Koivun has twice tied the 54-hole tournament scoring mark of 17 under and if he continues at his current pace, he could set the mark for single-season sub-par rounds (24), rounds in the 60s (16) and top-10 finishes (9).
“He came out of high school as the best junior in the country, and he’s just very mature,” Auburn coach Nick Clinard said. “He’s got a calmness and maturity about him on and off the golf course.”
A lot of those attributes Clinard credits to Koivun are things he has worked on since arriving on campus.
Last summer, Koivun struggled during the Elite Amateur Series. His best showing was at the Western Amateur, where he had three rounds in the 60s but still missed the match-play cut.
Heading into the U.S. Amateur, he didn’t have many expectations, but whatever he did had, he blew them out of the water.
“You know, you get up there and you see all of these names,” Koivun said. “All these people that have done all these things. But I started making a run, and it opened my eyes that I belong here and I can do great things as an amateur.”
Jackson Koivun shakes hands with Blades Brown’s caddie Jack Bethmann after Koivun during the round of 32 of the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills. (Photo: Chris Keane/USGA)
Koivun earned the No. 32 seed for match play and won 1 up in the Round of 64. Then he took down top-seeded Blades Brown 4 and 3 in the Round of 32. Up next, he dispatched Matthew Sutherland in 19 holes to move on to the quarterfinals. Then, he took on Nick Dunlap and gave the eventual champion his hardest match of the week, losing in 19 holes.
But Koivun’s mentality changed. He grew tougher and learned a lot about himself. He was ready to compete on the biggest stage and could battle with the best in the amateur game.
And that’s exactly what he has done this season.
In his first collegiate start, he finished T-2 at the Mirabel Maui Jim in Arizona. He added two more top-10 finishes and a T-19 to close out the fall.
The spring has been even better. He has lost to only 10 golfers in six starts, picked up his first victory at the Wake Forest Invitational at Pinehurst No. 2 and his worst finish is T-4. He’s squarely in contention for the Phil Mickelson Award, given to the nation’s top freshman, and the Fred Haskins Award, given to the nation’s top player.
“It’s great to play good golf in the fall and the spring,” Koivun said, “but nationals is where it’s all at. It’s make or break. That’s where my attention has been at.”
Clinard said Koivun’s practice has improved since he got to Auburn, meaning he’s more focused during practice and not just pounding golf balls on the range like a lot of juniors do. Having one of the best teams int he country helps, too, with many of his teammates also pushing Koivun.
Qualifying rounds can be pretty competitive, leading to some animated competition between teammates, but all of that has pushed Koivun to be one of the best golfers in the country this year. As a squad, Auburn has lost to only four teams all season.
If the rankings are any indication, SECs should come down to No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Vanderbilt for the title. Perhaps Koivun will match up with Vanderbilt superstar and World No. 1 Gordon Sargent come match play.
It’s something he would welcome because he knows it would be a growing experience, win or lose.
Auburn’s Jackson Koivun. (Photo: Lucas Peltier)
Koivun’s father, George, taught him the game. Koivun guesses the first time he beat his dad was when he was 7, but he attributes where he is now to his parents for their teaching and guidance. Clinard said that guidance is a big foundation for Koivun, and he has only grown as he has come into his own.
“He’s like a sponge,” Clinard said of Koivun. “He wants to learn. He wants to get better. He wants to know what it’s going to be like on Tour and what it’s going to be like when pins are tucked and greens are firmer and faster. And what he has to do to win, not just play well.”
Those lessons instilled in Koivun since his junior days have grown as he has gotten comfortable in college, and he has become one of the best amateurs in the game.
Koivun has put together one of the best seasons in Auburn history, but as he acknowledges, it’s what he does in the postseason that matters the most.
LSU missed on a defensive tackle transfer prospect.
LSU came up short in landing one of its top transfer defensive tackle targets as [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag] committed to Auburn.
Blidi began his career at Texas Tech before transferring to Indiana. He hit the portal again after a year with the Hoosiers, this time garnering SEC interest.
According to On3’s Shea Dixon, Auburn made an impression on Blidi, and the buzz around his recruitment signaled Auburn following Blidi’s visit to the Plains.
Per PFF, Blidi was the 15th-best graded defensive tackle in the Big Ten last year while totaling 15 pressures and 11 run stops.
LSU needs to beef up its defensive tackle group and remains in pursuit of some of the portal’s top players, including DTs [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag].
#LSU hosted Indiana transfer DT Philip Blidi, but all the buzz had been around Auburn following his visit earlier this week. https://t.co/7cWYDtn4eM
Blidi bolsters an already solid Auburn transfer class that ranks 10th in the country, according to On3.
LSU remains well positioned with the seventh-ranked transfer class, but Blidi is a loss given the Tigers’ need at his position.
Brian Kelly said defensive tackle is the only position LSU is after in the spring portal window. [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] are the only two scholarship defensive tackles on the roster who saw time for LSU last year.
Despite the lack of numbers, Kelly feels good about where the position is headed with defensive line coach [autotag]Bo Davis[/autotag] leading the way.
Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.
Auburn star forward Johni Broome to return for 2024-25 basketball season.
On Wednesday night, the Auburn Tigers got some massive news surrounding their 2024-25 roster, as star forward Johni Broome announced that he would return next season to use his final year of collegiate eligibility.
A big win for the Tigers, Broome was one of the SEC’s top frontcourt players this past season, averaging 16.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, and 2.2 BPG across 35 games, 34 of which he started. Broome also shot 54.8% FG, 35.4% 3pter, and 61.5% free throws for the year, receiving honors including First Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defense.
Over the last two seasons, Broome has also averaged a combined 15.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 2.3 BPG for the Tigers, as well as having led Auburn in scoring each year, as well as rebounding and blocked shots. During that stretch, Broome has also shot a combined 53.8% from the field while starting in 67-of-68 games.
A mainstay of Auburn’s frontcourt the last two seasons, Broome will likely now enter the 2024-25 season as a legit SEC Player of the Year candidate, and could very easily be in the mix for a few awards on the national level.
Simply put, this is a significant win for the 2024-25 Auburn Tigers, as they will be led by one of the top frontcourt players in all of college basketball.
There’s a reason Auburn is the top-ranked team in men’s college golf.
There’s a reason Auburn is the top-ranked team in men’s college golf.
The Tigers won the Mossy Oak Collegiate on Tuesday by 34 shots, shooting 46 under to win at Mossy Oak Golf Course in West Point, Mississippi. It’s Auburn’s fourth consecutive win and the seventh of the season, but perhaps more impressive is how the Tigers finished on the individual leaderboard.
The five players in Auburn’s lineup finished T-1, T-1, 3, 4 and 5. That’s right. The Tigers swept the top-five spots in the individual competition. And their individual placed T-7.
J.M. Butler and Brendan Valdes shared medalist honors, shooting 12-under 204. Freshman Jackson Koivun was two shots back at 10 under, his ninth top-10 finish of the season. Carson Bacha was fourth at 9 under and Josiah Gilbert placed fifth at 7 under.
Reed Lotter was the individual and shot 5 under.
“Not to my knowledge has that been done,” said Auburn coach Nick Clinard. “Twenty-three years of coaching, and it’s the first time it has happened to me. It’s kind of crazy. But obviously proud of the team and how they played.”
Resident college golf historian College Golf Book on social media hasn’t been able to find another instance of this happening on the men’s side, let alone four of a team’s individuals placing in the top five.
Auburn’s star freshman guard will reportedly enter the transfer portal.
One of the biggest SEC names to enter the transfer portal up to this point in the offseason happened Tuesday, as Auburn Tigers guard Aden Holloway is reportedly entering his name into the portal after one season in the program.
Holloway originally came to Auburn a year ago as the headline newcomer of the Tigers offseason. Prior to Auburn, Holloway was considered as a five-star prospect out of Prolific Prep in California, as well as one of the nation’s best point guards in the 2023 class.
This past season, Holloway started 26-of-35 games for the SEC Tournament champions, averaging 7.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG, and 2.7 APG on 31.8% shooting from the field. A SEC All-Freshman selection, Holloway also shot 30.2% from three, as well as 77.4% at the free throw line.
Likely the Tigers projected starting point guard in 2024-25, Holloway is now the third Auburn player to enter the transfer portal so far this offseason, as he joins fellow guards K.D. Johnson and Tre Donaldson.
BREAKING: Auburn freshman guard Aden Holloway has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, per @PeteNakos_.
The Houston Texans continue to look at options at safety in the draft following an aggressive offseason in free agency.
Another safety prospect is coming to visit NRG Stadium.
According to KPRC2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, the Houston Texans will host Auburn defensive back Jaylin Simpson on Tuesday before the upcoming NFL draft later this month.
Simpson, a four-year starter for the Tigers, can play anywhere in the secondary. He began his career as Auburn’s starting nickel defender before switching to free safety full-time in 2022.
Last season, Simpson earned All-SEC honors while totaling 38 tackles and three pass breakups. His four interceptions ranked third among SEC players, trailing only Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston and Alabama’s Terrion Arnold.
Last month at the NFL combine, Simpson impressed during on-field drills, running at 4.45 40-time with a 4.55 20-yard shuttle. Simpson also posted a 40-inch vertical and an 11-foot-1 broad jump, both ranked inside the top 10 among safety prospects at the event.
The Texans are looking for position flexibility in the secondary heading into Year 2 of the DeMeco Ryans’ era. The nickel position is one area that remains unknown given the status of the safety room.
Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward were serviceable while helping Houston clinch its first AFC South title in four years, but were also inconsistent in man coverage. Pitre, who enters a crucial Year 3 with Houston, was credited with 14 missed tackles last season in coverage.
Ward missed nine games, including both playoff matchups, due to multiple injuries and was placed on the second-ending injured reserve in late December.
Jaylin Simpson is a 5’11” 179 lbs safety with 1 year of safety experience in 2023 as his former seasons were spent as a CB. Fitting the run is still a work in progress as far as his eyes, size, & angles. But this fit vs a 221 lbs RB is very encouraging
Simpson, a projected Day 3 pick, likely wouldn’t start from the jump, but his presence could raise the level of competition in practice. All three defenders have experience playing in the nickel, too. Pitre, who won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, shined at Baylor as the team’s starting STAR position.
Ward, who joined Ryans after eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, began his career at the nickel before transitioning to safety in 2018. In 2022, he shifted back to the slot role following the emergence of All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga.
The Texans currently own nine picks in the draft, including two picks in the second, fourth, sixth, and seventh rounds, respectively.
The sophomore guard will enter the transfer portal after two seasons on the Plains.
According to reports, Auburn Tigers sophomore guard Tre Donaldson will be entering the transfer portal after two seasons with the Tigers program.
Donaldson, who started 10-of-67 games across the last two years, is coming off a breakout 2023-24 season in which he averaged 6.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, and 3.2 APG for the Tigers. The sophomore was also one of Auburn’s top three-point shooters at 41.2% for the season, while also shooting 47.1% from the field, as well as 78.4% from the free throw line.
This season came after Donaldson appeared in 32 games off the Tigers bench as a freshman in 2022-23, averaging 2.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, and 1.2 APG, while also shooting 40.6% from three.
Donaldson now joins fellow guard K.D. Johnson as the only Auburn players to enter the transfer portal so far this offseason. The sophomore guard was likely expected to be a prominent member of the 2024-25 Auburn backcourt, as well as potentially an early favorite to fill a starting role for the Tigers.
NEWS: Auburn guard Tre Donaldson plans to enter the transfer portal, he tells @On3sports.
Schofill can join Rose Zhang as the only players to win both the ANWA and U.S. Women’s Amateur.
The Robert Cox trophy, one of the oldest and most beautiful trophies in all of golf, doesn’t travel well. Megan Schofill buckled it up in her car to take it home over Christmas break. She’ll take it back in May after she leaves Auburn so that her home club, Glen Arven Country Club in Thomasville, Georgia, can enjoy it for a few months before this year’s edition of the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Auburn went all out to celebrate Schofill’s achievement, honoring her on the field during a football game, on the court during a basketball game and with a dinner at the university president’s house attended by 200 supporters. The athletic director, John Cohen, even had a painting made for the fifth-year senior who became the first Tiger to win the title at Bel-Air Country Club.
It took Schofill six appearances at the Women’s Amateur before she won it all. Next week, when the 22-year-old tees it up at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, she’ll be a different player than she was last spring.
“I proved to myself that I’m capable of a lot more than I really knew,” said Schofill, who tied for 14th last year after carding a 4-under 32 on the front nine at Augusta National (her back nine).
Painting commissioned by Auburn athletic director John Cohen. (courtesy photo)
The Augusta National Women’s Amateur trophy was designed in collaboration with Tiffany & Co. The bowl, spun from sterling silver and a 24K yellow gold vermeil, features the namesake flowers of each hole at Augusta National. The wooden base is made from a Magnolia tree.
While the original trophy remains at Augusta National year-round, each winner receives a replica trophy, similar to what’s done for the Masters Tournament.
It, too, would look like nice buckled up in Schofill’s front seat.
At this year’s ANWA, Schofill’s boyfriend, C.J. Easley, will be her on bag April 3-6 for the fifth edition of event. Easley is a senior on the Ole Miss golf team, and the couple have been dating for four years. Schofill relied on Easley’s laid-back demeanor inside the ropes at the Women’s Am.
“The only thing I had to do was get up and hit the shot,” she said of that week in Bel-Air.
Megan Schofill smiles alongside her caddie and boyfriend CJ Easley after hitting her tee shot on hole 16 during the final round of the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Photo: James Gilbert/USGA)
Easley has also attended a number of Schofill’s lessons back home with David Jackson, Schofill’s next-door neighbor and a former PGA Tour player. Schofill says Jackson, who now works in medical sales, is the sole reason she loves golf deep in her soul. They work often together when she’s home from school.
Schofill said she’s currently working on the same things she’ll probably be working on for the rest of her life. One of those areas is the sequence of her swing, as her hips often get in a hurry.
“I always try to think of a paint brush,” said Schofill. “Smooth like a paint brush, if you were painting something.”
Head coach Melissa Luellen said Schofill came to Auburn already a beautiful ball-striker but has worked to elevate other areas of her game. In her first team meeting freshman year, Luellen was going through the pin sheet and advising when to take one on.
“It was just like a foreign language to her,” recalled Luellen. “She was like, ‘I don’t think I can play that way. I like to go for pins.’ ”
Needless to say, Schofill no longer goes for every pin. She’s more patient, which is helpful at a place like Champions Retreat, where the first two rounds of the ANWA are played. Her short game has improved, too.
The next month will be a busy stretch for Schofill as her team heads to the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic in Athens this week. She’ll then drive to Augusta with Easley on Sunday night. After the ANWA, Schofill heads to the SECs the next week in Florida and will then head directly to the Chevron Championship in Texas to compete in the first of four majors.
The trappings that come with a U.S. Women’s Amateur victory are life-changing, but none more important than the boost of self-belief.
“It kind of solidified a lot of things for me personally,” said Schofill, who looks to join Rose Zhang as the only players to win both prestigious titles.
Auburn guard K.D. Johnson will enter the transfer portal after three seasons on the Plains.
Having spent each of the last three seasons with the Tigers program, Auburn guard K.D. Johnson is reportedly entering his name into the transfer portal according to multiple reports.
Johnson, a senior, appeared in 35 games this past season at Auburn, one of which he started. During the 2023-24 season, Johnson averaged 7.1 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, and 1.1 SPG for the SEC tournament champions, while also shooting 37.8% from the field, 27.1% from three, and 77.4% from the free throw line.
Across his three seasons at Auburn combined, Johnson started in 32-of-102 games with the Tigers since the 2021-22 campaign, averaging 9.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, and 1.4 SPG. Johnson also shot a combined 38.2% from the field, as well as 29.8% from three and 72.5% from the free throw line.
Prior to Auburn, Johnson originally began his collegiate career at Georgia during the 2020-21 season, where he was a Freshman All-SEC selection with the Bulldogs. Appearing in 16 games off Georgia’s bench, Johnson averaged 13.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, and 1.8 SPG, while also shooting 42.2% from the field and 38.7% from three.
NEWS: Auburn guard K.D. Johnson plans to enter the transfer portal, he tells @on3sports. ⁰⁰The 6-0 senior averaged 7.1 PPG this season. Began his career at Georgia.
