USC Grad Transfer Rivera Signs With Buffaloes
May 09, 2025 | Men's Golf
Will have one or two years of eligibility with the team
BOULDER — The University of Colorado men's golf program has added another player to its 2025-26 recruiting class, as University of Southern California's Jackson Rivera signed a financial aid agreement to enroll in Boulder this fall, CU head coach Roy Edwards announced Friday.
Rivera, who will graduate next week from USC with a degree in Real Estate Development, hails from San Diego, Calif., and attended the same high school as current CU senior, Justin Biwer, where he was a four-time All-American. He has seen limited action the last two seasons due to injuries, but is nearing 100 percent and the one-time PING All-West Region performer will have at least one season to play for the Buffaloes, and possibly two should he receive a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA.
"We are beyond excited to be adding Jackson Rivera to our team," Edwards said. "Until some injuries sidelined him, he was on his way to being one of the best players in the country. He is getting healthy and we expect he will have a great career at CU."
Rivera, 22, had an outstanding freshman season at USC in 2021-22, when he played in all 11 of the Trojans' events and individually in the NCAA West Regional, with a team-best stroke average of 71.70 for 37 rounds. He shot a 7-under 209 to tie for 10th in the regional to cap his rookie season, when in addition to being named to the All-West Region team, he garnered second-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors and was a member of the league's All-Freshman team, the latter two of which matched his Torrey Pines High School teammate Biwer's that same year. He recorded 23 rounds of par or better (20 subpar) with nine rounds in the 60's, including his collegiate career-best of a 63.
"I picked Colorado because I felt I had a really good connection with both coaches (Edwards and associated head coach Derek Tolan), and that they really believed in me and that I could really come in and help the team, Rivera said. "I also really liked their facilities and the golf courses they play as well. And honestly, I needed a change from southern California – I've essentially played in sunny weather most of my life, so I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing in different kinds of weather which will also help improve my all-around game."
As to the role his former high school teammate played in selecting CU, Rivera said that was also a key factor.
"Justin has been a good friend of mine since high school and we've spent a lot of time together, so keeping in touch with him and having him explain to me how he really trusts the coaches and how they have helped him both grow as a person and player was very important to me. He thought CU would be a really good fit for me, and after visiting there (last weekend), I totally agreed with him."
As a sophomore, he won two tournaments, including a four-stroke win (8-uncer) in the Washington Husky Invitational at Gold Mountain Golf Club, the same location as this year's NCAA Northwest Regional where the Buffaloes are participating in next week. He also was co-medalist in Arizona's prestigious N.I.T. meet, with an impressive 13-under 203 score. He once again appeared in all 13 of USC's events, finished second on the team with a 72.20 stroke norm for 40 rounds. He had 18 rounds of par or better and nine rounds in the 60's.
Due to injuries that sidelined him for the most part the last two seasons, he was able play in just two tournaments each year (12 rounds total), but is playing once again and is expected to bolster the Colorado roster, as the Buffaloes lose five seniors to graduation. He joins high school seniors Tyler Long and Casey Kosney in CU's '25-26 recruiting class.
U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING: Several current and former Buffs participated in U.S. Open Local Qualifying in miserable weather on May 6. Ty Holbrook was sizzling, shooting a career-best 8-under 63 (eight birdies, 10 pars) at Collindale Golf Club in Fort Collins to claim medalist honors; Derek Fribbs ('13) also advanced with a 4-under 67. The second alternate? Ryan Schmitz ('17) just missed with a 71 and Jack Holland fired a 74. On May 8, associate head coach Derek Tolan ('09), Brandon Knight and Hunter Swanson all advanced to the finals stage at The Broadlands in Broomfield, Swanson earning medalist honors with a 6-under 66, and Knight and Tolan carding 3-under 69's. Freshman Parker Paxton tried the same at his home course, Riverton (Wyo.) Country Club, firing a 6-under 66 and is the second alternate at present.
U.S. SENIOR OPEN QUALIFYING: Several CU alums participated in qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open on Monday, May 5 at Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club in Fort Carson with Scott Petersen ('93) advancing to the final qualifying stage, tying for ninth with a 2-over par 74; 70 was the low score with 16 advancing to the final qualifier on June 10 at the Country Club of Colorado. Also advancing was the head pro, Matt Schalk, of Colorado National Golf Club, CU's home course, as he shot a 71. On Friday, Mike Hogberg ('84) also advanced with a 2-under 70, that tied him for fourth in the qualifying event at River Landing's River Course in Wallace, N.C.
Rivera, who will graduate next week from USC with a degree in Real Estate Development, hails from San Diego, Calif., and attended the same high school as current CU senior, Justin Biwer, where he was a four-time All-American. He has seen limited action the last two seasons due to injuries, but is nearing 100 percent and the one-time PING All-West Region performer will have at least one season to play for the Buffaloes, and possibly two should he receive a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA.
"We are beyond excited to be adding Jackson Rivera to our team," Edwards said. "Until some injuries sidelined him, he was on his way to being one of the best players in the country. He is getting healthy and we expect he will have a great career at CU."
Rivera, 22, had an outstanding freshman season at USC in 2021-22, when he played in all 11 of the Trojans' events and individually in the NCAA West Regional, with a team-best stroke average of 71.70 for 37 rounds. He shot a 7-under 209 to tie for 10th in the regional to cap his rookie season, when in addition to being named to the All-West Region team, he garnered second-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors and was a member of the league's All-Freshman team, the latter two of which matched his Torrey Pines High School teammate Biwer's that same year. He recorded 23 rounds of par or better (20 subpar) with nine rounds in the 60's, including his collegiate career-best of a 63.
"I picked Colorado because I felt I had a really good connection with both coaches (Edwards and associated head coach Derek Tolan), and that they really believed in me and that I could really come in and help the team, Rivera said. "I also really liked their facilities and the golf courses they play as well. And honestly, I needed a change from southern California – I've essentially played in sunny weather most of my life, so I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing in different kinds of weather which will also help improve my all-around game."
As to the role his former high school teammate played in selecting CU, Rivera said that was also a key factor.
"Justin has been a good friend of mine since high school and we've spent a lot of time together, so keeping in touch with him and having him explain to me how he really trusts the coaches and how they have helped him both grow as a person and player was very important to me. He thought CU would be a really good fit for me, and after visiting there (last weekend), I totally agreed with him."
As a sophomore, he won two tournaments, including a four-stroke win (8-uncer) in the Washington Husky Invitational at Gold Mountain Golf Club, the same location as this year's NCAA Northwest Regional where the Buffaloes are participating in next week. He also was co-medalist in Arizona's prestigious N.I.T. meet, with an impressive 13-under 203 score. He once again appeared in all 13 of USC's events, finished second on the team with a 72.20 stroke norm for 40 rounds. He had 18 rounds of par or better and nine rounds in the 60's.
Due to injuries that sidelined him for the most part the last two seasons, he was able play in just two tournaments each year (12 rounds total), but is playing once again and is expected to bolster the Colorado roster, as the Buffaloes lose five seniors to graduation. He joins high school seniors Tyler Long and Casey Kosney in CU's '25-26 recruiting class.
U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING: Several current and former Buffs participated in U.S. Open Local Qualifying in miserable weather on May 6. Ty Holbrook was sizzling, shooting a career-best 8-under 63 (eight birdies, 10 pars) at Collindale Golf Club in Fort Collins to claim medalist honors; Derek Fribbs ('13) also advanced with a 4-under 67. The second alternate? Ryan Schmitz ('17) just missed with a 71 and Jack Holland fired a 74. On May 8, associate head coach Derek Tolan ('09), Brandon Knight and Hunter Swanson all advanced to the finals stage at The Broadlands in Broomfield, Swanson earning medalist honors with a 6-under 66, and Knight and Tolan carding 3-under 69's. Freshman Parker Paxton tried the same at his home course, Riverton (Wyo.) Country Club, firing a 6-under 66 and is the second alternate at present.
U.S. SENIOR OPEN QUALIFYING: Several CU alums participated in qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open on Monday, May 5 at Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club in Fort Carson with Scott Petersen ('93) advancing to the final qualifying stage, tying for ninth with a 2-over par 74; 70 was the low score with 16 advancing to the final qualifier on June 10 at the Country Club of Colorado. Also advancing was the head pro, Matt Schalk, of Colorado National Golf Club, CU's home course, as he shot a 71. On Friday, Mike Hogberg ('84) also advanced with a 2-under 70, that tied him for fourth in the qualifying event at River Landing's River Course in Wallace, N.C.
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