Photo via Yahoo Sports

Not far from late father’s hometown, Austin Hitt achieves lifelong dream

Austin Hitt secured his first PGA Tour card with a dominant final-round performance at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, firing a 66 to win by two shots and claim the title. The victory came in Richmond, Virginia, just hours from Salem, where his late father, Chip Hitt, had grown up and played college golf at Roanoke College.

Chip, who passed away in February 2024 after a six-year battle with cancer, had been a lifelong golf enthusiast and a source of unwavering support for his son, even returning to the course to watch Austin compete during his college career at North Carolina. Austin’s mother, Jennifer, traveled from Florida to witness the moment, arriving just as her son trailed by a single shot after three rounds.

Despite the rain from Hurricane Isaias lingering on Sunday, Jennifer felt certain Austin would triumph, a sentiment rooted in his resilience and the mentality instilled by his father—one that emphasized moving forward after setbacks. The win fulfilled a lifelong dream for Austin, who dedicated the victory to his father’s memory, embodying the same passion and determination Chip had for the game.

Up nextGolf· 22m ago

Judge orders Trump administration to halt work on historic DC golf course