Get ready for an exciting journey as we introduce you to the newest members of the PGA TOUR! These 20 exceptional golfers have just graduated from the Korn Ferry Tour, and their stories are sure to inspire.
The Road to PGA TOUR Membership
The 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season has come to an end, and what a thrilling conclusion it was! At the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, presented by United Leasing & Finance, 20 PGA TOUR cards were up for grabs. The top 20 players on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List have earned their spot on the prestigious PGA TOUR for the 2026 season, which kicks off in January.
Let's dive into the stories of these talented individuals and uncover the paths that led them to this momentous occasion.
Chandler Blanchet: A Birdie-filled Victory
Chandler Blanchet, a Korn Ferry Tour veteran, birdied the first three holes of the final round, showcasing his exceptional skills. With a remarkable 6-under 66, he secured his second victory of the 2025 season at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. Blanchet's performance was nothing short of impressive, finishing two strokes ahead of his closest competitor, Barend Botha.
The PGA TOUR Card Ceremony
The ceremony at The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Golf Resort was a momentous occasion. Eleven players entered the Korn Ferry Tour Championship with their PGA TOUR cards already assured, while the remaining nine cards were awarded to those who had consistently performed throughout the season.
Johnny Keefer: A Dominant Force
Johnny Keefer, the top player on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, clinched the No. 1 position. His victories at the 2025 Veritex Bank Championship and NV5 Invitational solidified his dominance. Keefer broke the Korn Ferry Tour record for the single-season scoring average, an incredible achievement.
The Korn Ferry Tour Class of 2025
This year's class is a diverse group, representing nine countries and territories. Twelve players will be PGA TOUR rookies for the 2026 season, including some notable names like Zach Bauchou, Chandler Blanchet, and Davis Chatfield.
Meet the Graduates
Now, let's get to know each of these exceptional golfers a little better, starting with the top finisher on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List:
Johnny Keefer
- Keefer's consistency is remarkable, with six top-five finishes, nine top-10s, and 15 top-25s.
- He broke the Korn Ferry Tour record for the single-season scoring average, an incredible feat.
- Keefer's journey began at Baylor University, where he broke Jimmy Walker's school record for career scoring average.
- His professional debut was in 2024, and he has since climbed the rankings, entering the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Championship ranked No. 51.
- Keefer's love for golf was sparked by his father, who bribed him with lacrosse equipment to get him into the sport.
- Fun fact: Keefer is a huge fan of the TV show "The Office," claiming to have watched it more than 10 times!
Chandler Blanchet
- Blanchet's fourth season on the Korn Ferry Tour was a breakthrough, earning him his first PGA TOUR card.
- He secured his spot with victories at the 2025 Price Cutter Charity Championship and Korn Ferry Tour Championship.
- Blanchet's college career at the University of West Florida was impressive, with 13 individual victories and a Division II Jack Nicklaus Award.
- Growing up in Gainesville, Florida, Blanchet and his brother frequented local golf courses, honing their skills.
- In his mid-20s, Blanchet developed a passion for pour-over coffee and now travels with his coffee-brewing essentials.
Austin Smotherman
- Smotherman, a three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner, is returning to the PGA TOUR after an impressive season.
- He secured his spot with victories at the BMW Charity Pro-Am and Memorial Health Championship.
- Smotherman has graduated from the Korn Ferry Tour twice, a remarkable achievement.
- A native of Loomis, California, he grew up playing at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex and was an active participant in First Tee - Greater Sacramento.
- Smotherman's love for golf was inspired by his high school's alumni, including NBA and MLB stars.
Neal Shipley
- Shipley earned his first PGA TOUR card with comeback victories at the LECOM Suncoast Classic and Ascendant presented by Blue.
- A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shipley attended Central Catholic High School, an alma mater of notable figures like Dan Marino and Marc Bulger.
- Shipley's academic journey is impressive, with a bachelor's degree in quantitative finance and a master's in data analytics.
- He has earned exemptions for the Masters Tournament and U.S. Open, and his story was featured in the Netflix documentary series "Full Swing."
Emilio Gonzalez
- Gonzalez secured his first PGA TOUR membership with a victory at the Albertsons Boise Open.
- He attended St. Mary's University, an NCAA Division II program, where he earned seven individual victories and three consecutive conference player of the year awards.
- Gonzalez grew up in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and honed his skills at Club de Golf Malanquin.
- He becomes the sixth player from Mexico to earn PGA TOUR membership through the Korn Ferry Tour.
Hank Lebioda
- Lebioda secured his return to the PGA TOUR with his first Korn Ferry Tour title and four additional top-five finishes.
- He previously maintained PGA TOUR membership through the 2022-23 season, with a FedExCup Playoffs appearance as a highlight.
- Lebioda played college golf at Florida State University, earning individual victories and ACC Player of the Year honors.
- A native of Orlando, Florida, he excelled in both golf and baseball during his high school years.
Adrien Dumont de Chassart
- Dumont de Chassart clinched his return to the PGA TOUR with a record-setting victory at the Compliance Solutions Championship.
- His winning score of 33-under 251 is a Korn Ferry Tour history, and he also carded an impressive 11-under 59 at the Wichita Open.
- Dumont de Chassart joined the Korn Ferry Tour via PGA TOUR University and won his professional debut just 12 days after his last collegiate event.
- He played college golf at the University of Illinois, earning three consecutive Big Ten Conference Player of the Year awards.
- Dumont de Chassart is one of the few Korn Ferry Tour graduates to represent Belgium.
S.H. Kim
- Kim retained his PGA TOUR membership and improved his status for the 2026 season with a victory at the AdventHealth Championship and two runner-up finishes.
- He is graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour for the second time, having previously accomplished this feat as a rookie in 2022.
- Kim's international victories include prestigious events on the KPGA Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
Christo Lamprecht
- Lamprecht secured his first PGA TOUR membership in his first full season on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- He won the Pinnacle Bank Championship with a dramatic bunker shot on the 72nd hole, securing a walk-off birdie and the victory.
- Lamprecht attended Georgia Tech, where he broke school records and became the first South African to reach No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
- Standing at 6'8", Lamprecht is a towering presence on the course. He grew up in George, South Africa, and his family has a special connection with fellow South African Ernie Els.
Davis Chatfield
- Chatfield earned his first PGA TOUR membership in his third consecutive season on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- He posted runner-up finishes at the Astara Chile Classic and UNC Health Championship, and logged an impressive six top-10s this season.
- Chatfield turned professional in 2022 and advanced through every stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, a remarkable feat.
- A native of Attleboro, Massachusetts, he honed his skills at local golf courses and continues to reside in the northeast.
Zach Bauchou
- Bauchou secured his PGA TOUR membership with a win at the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation.
- He narrowly missed out on TOUR membership last season but fought his way back onto the bubble.
- Bauchou's journey to professionalism was a challenging one, but he persevered and earned his spot on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- He played college golf at Oklahoma State University, winning the Canadian Amateur Championship twice and being a part of the 2018 NCAA Championship-winning team.
Pierceson Coody
- Coody, a three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner, secured his return to the PGA TOUR with seven top-10 finishes, including runner-up finishes at the Astara Golf Championship and BMW Charity Pro-Am.
- He graduated from the Korn Ferry Tour for the second time, a remarkable achievement.
- Coody played college golf at the University of Texas, rising to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and helping the Longhorns win the NCAA Championship.
- Coody is the grandson of three-time PGA TOUR winner Charles Coody and is a fraternal twin brother to Parker Coody, making them the second set of twins to hold TOUR membership simultaneously.
S.T. Lee
- Lee earned his first PGA TOUR membership in his rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- He tallied six top-10 finishes, including a playoff runner-up finish at the LECOM Suncoast Classic.
- Lee ranked second on Tour with 21 made cuts, an impressive feat.
- Prior to joining the Korn Ferry Tour, he played on the KPGA Tour and earned his first international victory at the Lexus Masters.
Jeffrey Kang
- Kang earned his first PGA TOUR membership in his second season on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- He solidified his place in the top 20 of the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List with a top-25 finish at the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship.
- Kang's journey to professionalism began in 2014, and he played predominantly on PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China before earning his Korn Ferry Tour membership.
- A Los Angeles native, Kang played college golf at the University of Southern California and represented the United States at the Junior Ryder Cup.
Kensei Hirata
- Hirata earned his first PGA TOUR membership in his rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- He posted four top-three finishes, including co-runner-up finishes at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic and Utah Championship.
- Hirata becomes the fifth player from Japan to earn PGA TOUR membership through the Korn Ferry Tour.
- His runner-up finish in The Bahamas earlier this season propelled him to No. 99 in the Official World Golf Ranking, a career-high.
Trace Crowe
- Crowe retained his PGA TOUR membership and improved his status for the 2026 season, maintaining a position in the top 20 of the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List.
- He earned his first PGA TOUR card with a runner-up finish at Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School.
- Crowe played college golf at Auburn University, earning individual victories and All-Southeastern Conference honors.
John VanDerLaan
- VanDerLaan earned his first PGA TOUR membership in his fifth consecutive season on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- He secured his spot in the top 20 with his first Korn Ferry Tour win at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship.
- VanDerLaan has consistently finished in the top 75 of the Korn Ferry Tour Points List, with his best finish being No. 42 in 2023.
- A native of Southbury, Connecticut, VanDerLaan's earliest golf memory is attending the Travelers Championship at age 5, where he shared a snack with four-time PGA TOUR winner Billy Andrade.
Zecheng Dou
- Dou, a three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner, secured his return to the PGA TOUR with a late-season surge in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.
- He posted back-to-back runner-up finishes and added a top-25 finish at the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship.
- Dou is graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour for the third time, a remarkable achievement.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju
- Yellamaraju earned his first PGA TOUR membership in his second season on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- He won the The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic and added two top-five finishes, securing his TOUR card.
- Yellamaraju was born in India and emigrated to Canada at a young age. He started his golf journey at a local golf dome in Winnipeg and later moved to Mississauga, Ontario.
- Yellamaraju eschewed college golf and turned professional at 19, graduating from Stephen Lewis Secondary School.
Pontus Nyholm
- Nyholm earned his first PGA TOUR membership in his fourth consecutive season on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- He defeated fellow graduate Johnny Keefer in a playoff at the Visit Knoxville Open, securing his first Korn Ferry Tour title.
- Nyholm becomes the ninth player from Sweden to earn PGA TOUR membership via the Korn Ferry Tour.
- He has consistently finished in the top 75 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List, with a career-high finish of No. 40 in 2024.
- Nyholm played college golf at Campbell University, earning individual victories and breaking the school record for career scoring average.
- Nyholm, alongside PGA TOUR winners Ludvig Åberg and Vincent Norrman, helped Sweden win the European Amateur Team Championship.
These 20 graduates have proven their talent and dedication to the sport. Their stories are a testament to the hard work and perseverance required to reach the PGA TOUR.
As we celebrate their achievements, we can't help but wonder: Who among these talented golfers will make their mark on the PGA TOUR in the upcoming season? Will any of them become breakout stars? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain - these players are ready to take on the challenge and write their own chapters in golf history.
Stay tuned as we follow their journeys and witness the excitement unfold on the PGA TOUR!
