Get ready for an exciting season as we introduce you to the top five Korn Ferry Tour graduates who are set to make their mark on the PGA TOUR. From Johnny Keefer’s incredible rise to Neal Shipley’s electrifying birdie wins, these players have already proven their worth. We’ll also showcase the powerful Christo Lamprecht, the post-hype sleeper Adrian Dumont de Chassart, and the prolific winner Kensei Hirata. Join us as we dive into their stories, stats, and potential impact on the PGA TOUR. Get your golf fix and stay tuned for more!
The Corn Ferry Tours 2025 season concluded with 20 players securing their PGA Tour cards for 2026. Predicting their future success is tricky as each season brings surprises. Tim Widing, who finished fifth on the Kornferryy Tour points list, is now 209th in the FedEx Cup, while Aldrich Pocket, 29th on the points list, is the current favorite for rookie of the year. Instead of forecasting success, let’s analyze the most compelling corn ferry tour graduates transitioning to the PGA Tour. Johnny Kefir Kefir barely made it into the PGA Tour pipeline, but has since proven his merit. He topped the Fortnite Cup points list in 2024 and dominated the Korn Ferry Tour, winning twice and leading the seasonlong points race. Despite only playing three career PGA Tour starts, Kefir climbed to number 51 in the official World Golf Ranking. His well-rounded game, including strong performances in driving, greens and regulation, scrambling, and putting makes him a rising star to watch. Neil Shipley. Neil Shipley, the low amateur at the 2024 Masters and US Open, has already shown his potential on the PGA Tour. With nine cuts made in 12 tour starts, including a T6 finish at the ISCO Championship, he’s a force to be reckoned with. Shipley’s journey from the bottom qualifying for the Kornferryy Tour after a strong PGA Tour America’s stint showcases his determination. His electrifying birdie at the Leecom Sun Coast Classic further highlights his talent. The question remains, will he shine on a full tour schedule? Cristo Lamperect. Christo Lamperect, a towering 6’8 South African is hard to ignore. His remarkable power, impressive resume as a former amateur world number one, and unique build all draw attention. Lamprect finished ninth on the cornfairy tour points list in his first full year, quickly acclimating to pro golf. With potential similar to Michael Thorbjornson, who is finding his footing on the PGA Tour, Lampre’s future looks bright. His wins at the amateur championship and the Open Championship along with breaking Georgia Tech’s single season scoring record make him a compelling rookie to watch. Adrien Dumont Desart. Dumont dashart, a post hype sleeper, returns to the tour with less fanfare than his previous success. However, he should be viewed as more than a fringe player, leading the cornfairy tour in birdie average in 2025 and setting a record- setting victory at the compliance solutions championship. He showcased his firepower. Healthy again this year, Dumont Desart’s game has returned and with a year of tour experience, he’s poised for success. Kensei Hiatada. Kensei Hiatada, despite not winning on the Cornferryy Tour, has already proven his winning prowess with six career Japan Golf Tour wins, including four in 2024. He earned the Japan Golf Tour Rookie of the Year honors. Hiata’s talent is evident as he’s the third youngest to win four times on the Japanese Tour following Rio Ishiawa and Hideki Matsuyama. His compelling rookie season on the PGA Tour is highly anticipated.
