Grew up more interested in baseball than golf. His father, John, who played baseball at Mercer University, got him to take golf lessons in fourth grade, but he only made it two weeks. Eventually tired of other sports and suffered an ACL injury in basketball, which led him to try golf again. Said of his immediate success in golf the second time around, “I just picked it up naturally.” Still misses baseball, but knows he made the right decision to focus on golf.

Older sister, Kylie, played five seasons of soccer at Mercer University (2018-22). Also has a younger sister, Lindsay.

Finished No. 12 in the 2025 PGA TOUR University Ranking after four seasons at University of Illinois.

Played four seasons at University of Illinois (2021-25), where he earned three individual victories, was named the 2024 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, garnered a 2024 All-America Third Team honor, and earned three consecutive All-Big Ten honors (2023, 2024, 2025). Concluded his career ranked second in career scoring average (71.33), only trailing Adrien Dumont de Chassart (70.82).

Recipient of the 2025 Byron Nelson Award, presented annually to a graduating senior in recognition of their achievement in the classroom, on the course, and in their community. Buchanan most notably served at the Eastern Illinois Foodbank throughout his four years at Illinois; he sorted, packed, and loaded over 500 boxes of non-perishable food items to be delivered to the local Bloomington, Illinois community.

Finished T2 individually in the stroke play competition at the 2023 NCAA Championship – which marked the highest finish by an Illinois player at the NCAA Championship since Thomas Pieters won the individual national title in 2012.

Semifinalist at the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship, contested at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Notably defeated Preston Summerhays (Round of 64) and Luke Clanton (Round of 32) en route to the semifinals.