Also, Rocket Classic adds NCAA MEN’s Champion– Story below Thomson
CARLSBAD, Calif. — Following the conclusion of his NCAA Championships, senior Hunter Thomson of the University of Michigan men’s golf team earned a final PGA TOUR University Ranking of No. 24 on Tuesday (May 27). It earned him exempt membership on the PGA Tour Americas for the remainder of the 2025 season.
In all, the top-25 seniors in the final PGA Tour University Rankings earned membership on the PGA Tour (No. 1), Korn Ferry Tour (Nos. 2-10), and PGA Tour Americas (Nos. 11-25) following the final round of stroke play at the NCAA Championship.
Thomson could start his professional career at the Explore NB Open (July 3-6). He is also exempt from the Second Stage of the 2025 PGA Tour Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.
Thomson concludes his U-M career as the program’s all-time scoring leader with a 71.53 average. He became just the second Wolverine to lead the team in scoring average for four straight years, joining former All-American Kyle Mueller.
Thomson never missed a U-M event, starting 50 consecutive tournaments. In his career, he compiled 26 top-10 finishes, 15 top-five results and four individual titles. Thomson recorded 66 sub-par rounds — 40 of which were sub-70.
Thomson is one of four Big Ten golfers to earn status via the PGA Tour University ranking — UCLA’s Omar Morales (No. 9) and Pablo Ereno Perez (No. 10) and Illinois’ Jackson Buchanan (No. 12).
PGA Tour University Finals Ranking
1. David Ford (North Carolina)
2. Brendan Valdes (Auburn)
3. Jose Luis Ballester Barrio (Arizona State)
4. Ian Gilligan (Florida)
5. Jackson Van Paris (Vanderbilt)
6. Phichaksn Maichon (Texas A&M)
7. Preston Summerhays (Arizona State)
8. Sebastian Moss (Louisville)
9. Omar Morales (UCLA)
10. Pablo Ereno Perez (UCLA)
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. Cenrique 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)
NCAA Champion Michael LaSasso receives sponsor’s exemption to play the Rocket Classic
Detroit ― After the Rocket Classic gave Michael La Sasso a sponsors exception last last week, he was inspired to win the NCAA Men’s Singles tournament.
The Rocket Classic has added the NCAA Men’s Champion to a strong field.
Folks, the golfers are coming and the NCAA is providing the PGA Tour with a proving grounds for future talent.
“Extending this sponsor exemption to Michael is more than an invitation, it’s a celebration of rising talent and the future of golf,” Mark Hollis, chief operating officer at Rock Entertainment Group, said last week. “Since this tournament started in 2019, we have seen a number of amateurs get a start on the PGA Tour here in Detroit, and we are eager to see what Michael can do as he tests his game against the world’s best golfers.”
The Rocket, set for June 26-29 at Detroit Golf Club, is tentatively scheduled to be La Sasso’s PGA Tour debut.
