David Ford headlines final 2025 PGA TOUR University ranking as Top 25 earn pro status
26 May 2025
by Cameron Spraggins of AmateurGolf.com
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Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ Photos
North Carolina senior David Ford finished atop the final PGA TOUR University Ranking for the Class of 2025, officially securing his PGA TOUR card and leading a stacked group of 25 elite college golfers who are now set to take the next step in their professional careers.
Ford, one of the top-ranked amateurs in the world and a stalwart for the Tar Heels, edged out Auburn’s Brendan Valdes and Arizona State’s Jose Luis Ballester Barrio, who finished second and third respectively, to cap off a standout college career. As the No. 1 finisher, Ford earns immediate PGA TOUR membership, joining Michael Thorbjornsen (2024) and Ludvig Aberg (2023) as top finishers earning their PGA Tour card.
This year’s top 25 features international flair and representation from top programs across the country. Arizona State (2 players), Auburn (2), and UCLA (2) each had multiple representatives.
Auburn's Jackson Koivun and Florida State's Luke Clanton earned their PGA TOUR cards this season as well, joining Gordon Sargent as the only players to earn a TOUR card through the PGA TOUR University Accelerated Program. Clanton will turn professional this summer while Koivun plans to return for his junior season.
PGA TOUR Card – No. 1 Finisher
- 1. David Ford – North Carolina
Earns immediate PGA TOUR membership through the end of 2026.
First Team (2nd–5th) – Korn Ferry Tour + PGA TOUR Americas + Final Stage Q-School
- 2. Brendan Valdes – Auburn
- 3. Jose Luis Ballester Barrio – Arizona State
- 4. Ian Gilligan – Florida
- 5. Jackson Van Paris – Vanderbilt
Second Team (6th–10th) – Korn Ferry Tour + PGA TOUR Americas + Second Stage Q-School
- 6. Phichaksn Maichon – Texas A&M
- 7. Preston Summerhays – Arizona State
- 8. Sebastian Moss – Louisville
- 9. Omar Morales – UCLA
- 10. Pablo Ereno Perez – UCLA
Third Team (11th–25th) – PGA TOUR Americas + Second Stage Q-School
- 11. Algot Kleen – LSU
- 12. Jackson Buchanan – Illinois
- 13. Justin Hastings – San Diego State
- 14. Carson Bacha – Auburn
- 15. Drew Goodman – Oklahoma
- 16. Caden Fioroni – UNLV
- 17. Calum Scott – Texas Tech
- 18. Buck Brumlow – Georgia
- 19. Jake Peacock – South Florida
- 20. Enrique Dimayuga – SMU
- 21. Nathan Franks – South Carolina
- 22. Kieron Van Wyk – College of Charleston
- 23. Gray Albright – Florida State
- 24. Hunter Thomson – Michigan
- 25. Nicholas Mathews – NC State
About the Program
No. 1 Finisher: Earns immediate PGA TOUR membership and full status through the remainder of the 2025 season, with a second year guaranteed in 2026.
1st–5th (First Team): These players earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the rest of the 2025 season, along with exemptions into all full-field events. They also earn PGA TOUR Americas status and automatic entry into Final Stage of Q-School.
6th–10th (Second Team): Earn Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas status, plus exemption into Second Stage of Q-School.
11th–25th (Third Team): These players gain PGA TOUR Americas membership and earn Second Stage Q-School exemptions.