Derek Hitchner claimed his first Korn Ferry Tour title after a playoff thriller that no one will soon forget. The 26-year-old triumphed at the 18th hole of Ogden Golf and Country Club in his 18th start on the Tour, at the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank and Intermountain Health. Five guys battled for the win – that was the largest playoff in Korn Ferry Tour history!
From Underdog to Top Shot
What a story: Hitchner converted his first 54-hole lead/co-lead directly into a victory and topped it off with his very first Top-10 finish on the Korn Ferry Tour. On Sunday, he followed up with a 3-under 67, after already carding a career-best 62 earlier in the week.
For this massive win, he not only received the trophy but also $180,000 and a hefty 500 points. This catapults him from 136th to 26th in the Korn Ferry Tour Rankings – a jump that could completely turn his career around! Tommy Morrison, who was actually the highest-ranked player in the playoff field at 8th, had to concede defeat.
The Run at Ogden
The entire week in Ogden was a spectacle. Chris Francoeur fired a 59 right at the start, setting the standard for a record-breaking week. The course was clearly ready for low scores, but Hitchner was the only one who truly delivered in the decisive moment and got to hoist the trophy at the end.
The 26-year-old former Pepperdine player, who only turned professional in 2023, has thus shown that you should never write him off. This victory is not just a triumph for Hitchner himself, but also a clear signal to the competition that he is a force to be reckoned with in the future. His ascent has officially begun!
