CINCINNATI — Cincinnati native Kevin Hall is the winner of the 2025 APGA Adrian Stills Award. The victory is his eighth on the APGA Tour, and his family says he’s been maintaining that success through different challenges throughout his life.
What You Need To Know
Kevin Hall has been golfing since he was 9 years old
He has eight APGA tour victories
Hall won the 2025 APGA tour
Kevin Hall has been golfing since he was 9 years old.
“I want to be the first one to give people the confidence to do whatever they want to do, and come up behind me and do better,” Kevin said.
Hall lost his hearing at age 2, but that didn’t stop him from chasing his dream becoming the first African American athlete to play college golf at Ohio State, where he earned a degree in journalism.
“It’s amazing what God has allowed him to do as a deaf person,” Kevin’s mother, Jackie Hall, said. “At 5 years old, Kevin, we sat him down and asked what he wants to do with his life, and he said, ‘I want to live my life.'”
Jackie said it shook their world when he lost his hearing, but she credits her faith and family for turning a negative into a positive.
“My husband said we’re not always responsible for what happens to us, but we are responsible by how we handle it,” Jackie said.
Now 43, Kevin has seen a lot of success on the golf course including his induction into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame in 2022. He said he wouldn’t change anything about his journey.
“A lot of really good golfers from all walks of life, to go up against them, tournament after tournament to win, it’s not like they hand it to you, you have to go out and earn it,” Kevin said.
Kevin’s dad, Percy, said he’s still in awe of the way his son carries himself on and off the course.
“Very proud, because we get an opportunity to see him perform and take on challenges, and what he does is amazing,” he said.
And Kevin strives to continue to inspire others along the way.
“It means a lot,” he said. “God has given me this responsibility to go out and do the best I can and feel like he put me on earth to motivate and inspire people.”
Kevin said he hopes his story can motivate others to achieve their goals and dreams.