Professional Golfer @kornferrytour ||| UNC Alum
Joined June 2013
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Austin Hitt retweeted
Ben Griffin grew emotional as he watched his @UNCMensGolf teammate and de facto “younger brother” Austin Hitt win last month’s @KFTChampionship in Virginia to earn his first PGA Tour card.
Hitt’s dad Chip, who was a standout junior golfer in Virginia, died of cancer two years ago. As the drama unfolded at the Korn Ferry Tour finale, Griffin thought of the Hitt family’s shared dream of Austin earning a PGA Tour card, and of several close calls early in Hitt’s career before breaking through.
The emotions remain strong at this week’s @WWTChampionship, as the longtime friends prepare to compete on Tour together in 2027.
Austin Hitt retweeted
Still getting goosebumps thinking about Sunday at the @KornFerryTour Championship and @AustinHitt1 winning – and earning his PGA Tour card – not far from where he late father, Chip, was born.
Watching that moment where his mom surprised him on the 18th green and Hitt saying how he wished his dad could've been there as well, it brought tears to my eyes.
So, I decided to write more about it and Hitt's resilient journey to finally realizing a dream:
golfchannel.com/korn-ferry-t…
Austin Hitt retweeted
Often times golf tournaments transcend the sport, and Sunday at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship was just another example.
Austin Hitt won his first KFT title and earned his first PGA Tour card along with it, achieving a lifelong dream that he's had for much of his 28 years. Hitt starred alongside Ben Griffin and Ryan Gerard in college, but since turning pro in 2021 has often found himself answering questions about those guys. He has been more recently known as Gerard's roommate.
And yet this week outside of Richmond, Virginia, everything changed.
Hitt already knew it was going to be an emotional week, regardless of the outcome. His late father, Chip, who passed away at age 65 in February 2024 after a six-year cancer battle, had played college golf at Roanoke College in his native Salem, Virginia, about three hours from The Federal Club. Hitt then found his swing after last week's missed cut and ended up shooting 20 under, including a final-round 66 in wet conditions, and winning by two shots.
Making the victory even more emotional, Hitt's mother, Jennifer, flew in on Saturday and watched her son's last couple dozen holes, hiding and not surprising Austin until he holed his final putt on the 18th green.
Hitt and his mom shared a long hug, and then he was asked about the one person he was thinking of in the moment.
"My dad," Hitt said. "Yeah, I wish he could be here."
Austin Hitt retweeted
🚨🗣️ #CLAPPING BACK — Ryan Gerard RESPONDS to a heckler after taking the solo lead. 🤯
“Get in the bunker…”
Gerard: “It’s not in the bunker dog.”
Austin Hitt retweeted
How far would most golfers travel to play in the Masters? Ryan Gerard took a path more than 20,000 miles long. #themasters
Austin Hitt retweeted
Three years ago this week, Ryan Gerard broke out at the Honda Classic by Monday-qualifying and finishing fourth.
Now, @golfgerard is a PGA Tour winner and top-30 player in the world.
How's he done it? With an unorthodox swing and crazy confidence, both superpowers:
golfchannel.com/pga-tour/new…
Mini @TGL coming soon to the living room
Why put a dining table in the dining room … when you can put multiple putting mats and TVs in there instead?? 😂
@golfgerard is living every golf sicko’s dream - which we hope to feature soon in a revival of “Cribs” ⛳️🏠
@SmylieKaufman10 | @charliehulme | @GolfChannel | @SportsGridTV | @UNCmensGolf | @AustinHitt1
Austin Hitt retweeted
Will history be made today with the first Chapel Hill native being named to the @rydercup team? @bengriffingolf stands ninth in U.S. points standings with six players already qualified and six more named at 11 a.m. by Keegan Bradley. Photos of Griffin on tour this year and in 2011 with dad Cowan as caddie in Pinehurst.
Austin Hitt retweeted
Breakthrough to Bethpage. 🇺🇸
Ben Griffin will make his Ryder Cup debut for the Red, White & Blue.
#GoUSA
ALT Official Ryder Cup 2025 graphic featuring Ben Griffin selected as a Captain’s Pick for Team USA. The Ryder Cup will take place from Friday, September 26 to Sunday, September 28, 2025. This year's event will be held at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York
Austin Hitt retweeted
Pro Debut ✅
@UNCmensGolf alum Peter Fountain starts his pro career with three straight rounds under par in Argentina 🇦🇷👌
Austin Hitt retweeted
Birdie finish 💪
@AustinHitt1 (T3) cards 8-under 63 with lengthy putt on the 72nd hole @UTChampionship.
Austin Hitt retweeted
It's good to be back.
Former @UNCmensGolf Tar Heel @AustinHitt1 returns to North Carolina to compete in the @UNCHealthChamp for the first time as a #KornFerryTour member.
Austin Hitt retweeted
Early contender for story of @usopengolf Final Qualifying: @McGooberish
33-year-old career grinder, has spent time on @KornFerryTour / Latin / mini-tours
Parents met at 1977 Q-School in Pinehurst. Grew up in Pinehurst. Will make @PGATOUR debut at U.S. Open at Pinehurst
Austin Hitt retweeted
Finley looking Regional ready thanks to the hard work of so many at @UNCFinley
#TarHeelTough
Austin Hitt retweeted
Holderness & Bourne is an interesting case study in golf.
While almost anyone can create an apparel brand - few can do it well.
Having a great product is only half the battle.
Here is what stands out to me.
• Founders & Team
• Channel Strategy
Not many Yale MBA graduates are entering the golf industry.
But after a night of a few beers discussing the idea. Alex and John decided they could make a better golf shirt and brand.
So they quit their jobs on Wall Street and pooled their savings together.
They started canvassing the garment district in New York City.
Their main differentiator? A piece of plastic.
To be more accurate - a collar stay. They wanted crips and proper collars on their golf shirts.
It was much more difficult to find a collar stay than you may think - it took 40 prototypes.
Alex and John started selling shirts out of their cars. And they scored some big accounts in the beginning.
• Winged Foot
• Greenwich CC
• Wykagyl CC
• Somerset Hills
Here is what really stands out to me - their commitment to their channel strategy.
H&B has remained true to its mission as a golf lifestyle brand.
Their support and conviction for green grass pros is unwavering.
While so many brands are utilizing retail as a channel - H&B is not.
They are building strong relationships with golf facilities - public & private - and staying loyal.
They now have over 100 embroidery heads at their facility in Armonk, New York, for custom logos.
Keeping this in-house has added value to their customers versus outsourcing fulfillment.
When I met with H&B at the PGA Show, I was impressed with their operation.
They are one of the most detailed and organized companies I have interacted with.
While H&B has had fantastic growth in recent years - it wasn't an overnight success story.
They have been at it for a decade.
A lot can be learned from H&B.
Whenever I chat with a founder in the golf space - I bring up H&B as an example.
They have a clear strategy. You certainly don't have to mimic it, but you need to be committed to that strategy.
Austin Hitt retweeted
Math is hard.
Altitude makes it harder. 😅
@AustinHitt1 @CountryBogota
Austin Hitt retweeted
Austin Hitt and his caddie JP didn’t disappoint on the mic 🎙️🤣
@AustinHitt1 @CountryBogota