As his PGA Tour-bound peer Jackson Koivun was announcing his professional plans to the world, Ben James was already at work.
James, the 23-year-old University of Virginia product who earned his PGA Tour card by finishing No. 1 in this year’s PGA Tour University class, teed off at 8:28 a.m. ET Friday at TPC Toronto in Caledon, Ontario, site of this week’s RBC Canadian Open. About a half hour later, Koivun, who just wrapped his junior season at Auburn by leading the Tigers to a second NCAA title and again sweeping national player of the year honors, posted that he would be joining James on Tour in a couple weeks, activating his card earned through PGA Tour U’s Accelerated program.
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Much is expected of Koivun, the world’s top-ranked amateur.
But don’t forget about James, who reminded us Friday why he – and not Koivun – is one of just five college players to ever garner first-team All-America status all four years.
James fired a 7-under 63 to vault to 10 under and into the lead midway through the second round of his first start as a PGA Tour member. A prolific ball-striker, particularly off the tee, James began his day with an eagle at the par-5 first, the second time in as many rounds he’s eagled the hole, hitting his second shot 220 yards to 22 feet and getting the putt to drop. He added five more birdies and no bogeys as he currently sits a shot clear of Sam Burns, Haotong Li, Jesper Svensson and Jackson Suber, the latter of whom played alongside James and Neal Shipley.
“It all kind of came together today,” James said. “It was just one of those days, the putter was good, hitting fairways, had good numbers, and was able to capitalize on a pretty tricky scoring day.”
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A little more background on James: The Milford, Connecticut native verbally committed to UConn at just 11 years old before developing into one of the top juniors on the AJGA circuit, up there with Nick Dunlap, Caleb Surratt and Luke Clanton. James won the Phil Mickelson Award as the nation’s top freshman in 2023, but he then lost his game and confidence that summer. He retreated to a log cabin in Linville, North Carolina, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains and where there are fewer than 300 people, in hopes of a total reset. James returned at the U.S. Amateur and made the quarterfinals, then helped the U.S. win the Walker Cup at St. Andrews; he’d go on to make the 2025 team as well. Starting with that U.S. Amateur, James finished 12th or better in 32 of his final 39 amateur and college tournaments, including a senior season for the Cavaliers where he cracked the top 5 in every start until a T-16 at the NCAA Championship.
“I wasn’t really thinking about really results at all this week,” James said. “Just worried about getting comfortable, making new friends and having fun, and just seeing where everything kind of falls, just seeing where my game stacks up. Obviously, I have some stuff to work on, just trying to see where everything goes because this is just the baseline, it’s my first professional debut.”
James is also into next week’s U.S. Open after getting through final qualifying, plus the Travelers Championship on a sponsor exemption the following week. He’ll have full status through next season.
As for the weekend in Canada, James isn’t sure what to expect should he find himself in the final group on Saturday and/or Sunday.
“I got no clue,” James said, “because I’ve never been in this position, so I’m very excited to find out.”
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