David Ford continues to hold the number one spot in PGA Tour U rankings

February 19, 2025 | by Sean Melia of AmateurGolf.com

Preston Summerhayes, Jose Ballester, David Ford, Brendan Valdes, and Ian Gilligan

Florida standout and 2024 Western Amateur champion Ian Gilligan leaps to second place in tight race for PGA Tour card

PGA Tour University is rounding the corner and heading down the home stretch. With just over two months left to accrue points, players are all jockeying for position and the top spot is still very much up for grabs.

David Ford raced to the front of the pack with a strong finish to his fall season for North Carolina. However, his lead is slim and the likes of Ian Gilligan, Brendan Valdes, Jose Luis Ballester, and Preston Summerhayes are within touching distance.

There is more to earn than just a PGA Tour card; players throughout the top 25 spots will earn various exemptions and opportunities.

PGA TOUR University First Team

Eligible players finishing 1st-5th in the final PGA TOUR University Ranking will:

1. Earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the then-current season and will be exempt into all open, full-field Korn Ferry Tour events beginning the week following the conclusion of the NCAA Division-I National Championship through the end of the current Korn Ferry Tour regular season;

a. Earn exempt membership on PGA TOUR Americas Segment I (through the Latin America Swing) the season following his finish in PGA TOUR University.

2. Have no limit to the number of PGA TOUR events he plays as a nonmember in the then-current season and the following season;

3. Have no limit to the number of PGA TOUR sponsor exemptions he may receive in the then-current season and the following season; and

4. Be exempt into Final Stage of the current season’s PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

PGA TOUR University Second Team

Eligible players finishing 6th-10th in the final PGA TOUR University Ranking will:

1. Earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the then-current season and will be exempt into all open, full-field Korn Ferry Tour events beginning the week following the conclusion of the NCAA Division-I National Championship through the end of the current Korn Ferry Tour regular season;

a. Earn exempt membership on PGA TOUR Americas Segment I (through the Latin America Swing) the season following his finish in PGA TOUR University.

2. Be exempt into Second Stage of the current season’s PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

PGA TOUR University Third Team

Eligible players finishing 11th-25th in the final PGA TOUR University Ranking will:

1. Earn membership on PGA TOUR Americas for the then-current season and will be exempt into all open, full-field Segment II – North America Swing events beginning the week following the conclusion of the NCAA Division-I National Championship through the end of the current PGA TOUR Americas season; and

a. Earn conditional membership on PGA TOUR Americas Segment I (through the Latin America Swing) the season following his finish in PGA TOUR University.

2. Be exempt into Second Stage of the current season’s PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

HERE ARE THE TOP TEN FOR FEBRUARY 19, 2025

1) David Ford – University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Ford maintains his position at the top of the rankings with three victories and eight top-10 finishes in 20 events. His consistent performance continues to set him apart in collegiate golf. His most recent finish was a T16 in the Amer Ari Invitational.

2) Ian Gilligan – University of Florida

Gilligan has climbed to the No. 2 spot and is the biggest mover of the week among the top 30. He jumped from 5th to 2nd. He has two wins and eight top-10 finishes in 18 events. His recent runner-up finish at the Southwestern Invitational and victory in the Gator Invitational highlights his strong form this season. Gilligan also won the Australian Master of the Amateurs in January, which didn't earn him any points but further proves his excellent recent form.

3) Brendan Valdes – Auburn University

Valdes has one win (Mossy Oak Collegiate) and ten top-10 finishes across 19 counting events. Despite undergoing minor surgery in November, he is anticipated to return to competition later this month, aiming to build on his early-season success.

4) Jose Luis Ballester Barrio – Arizona State University

The 2024 U.S. Open champion has recorded one victory and seven top-10 finishes in 17 events. He recently competed in the WM Phoenix Open, marking his second PGA Tour start, which adds valuable experience to his collegiate career. He won the Fighting Illini Invitational in the fall and will tee it up in the Mexico Open on the PGA Tour this week.

5) Preston Summerhays – Arizona State University

With two wins and five top-10 finishes in 21 events, Summerhays began the fall season with a victory at the Sahalee Players Championship and has maintained a strong presence in collegiate golf. He finished T13 in the Amer Ari Invitational most recently.

6) Jackson Buchanan – University of Illinois

Buchanan boasts three victories and thirteen top-10 finishes over 21 events. His impressive record includes a win at the 2024 Fallen Oaks Collegiate, underscoring his competitive consistency. He finished third in the Steelwood Collegiate and eighth in the John A. Burns Intercollegiate, his first college event of 2025.

7) Jackson Van Paris – Vanderbilt University

Van Paris has participated in 16 events, delivering notable performances that have solidified his position within the top ten of the rankings. While he hasnt recorded a victory, Van Paris is consistent. He has six top-ten finishes. He finished T18 in the Southwestern Invitational, his first 2025 college event.

8) Omar Morales – UCLA

Morales has one win (2023 Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate Invitational) and ten top-10 finishes in 21 events. He has been a consistent performer, with three top-10 finishes in the fall season. It has not been a great start to the spring season for the UCLA star. He finished T57 in the Southwestern Invitational and T46 in the Amer Ari Invitational.

9) Sebastian Moss – University of Louisville

Moss has yet to compete in 2025. He has secured four victories and nine top-10 finishes in 17 events. He had a strong fall, never finishing outside the 11th place and winning twice (Fighting Irish Classic and The Bearcat Invitational).

10) Pablo Ereno Perez – UCLA

Perez has one win and ten top-10 finishes across 18 events. His consistent top-10 placements have solidified his position within the top ten of the rankings. In 2025 he has a T5 in the Southwestern Invitational and a T46 in the Amer Ari Invitational.

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