COLUMBUS, Ohio - Florida Southern Men's Golf alumnus John VanDerLaan achieved his first career Korn Ferry Tour victory at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship, held at the Ohio State University Golf Club - Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio. VanDerLaan, a 2018 graduate of Florida Southern, won with an impressive 17-under-par total, marking his first victory on the tour after 142 career starts.
VanDerLaan opened the tournament by tying the course record with a 9-under 62, matching the tournament-low 18-hole score set by 2022 champion David Lingmerth. He maintained a one-stroke lead after 54 holes and converted it into a three-stroke victory, finishing with a 17-under 267, which ties the 72-hole scoring record for the tournament. His final round included seven birdies and was capped off with a 4-under 67, despite a double-bogey and a bogey in his closing stretch.
This victory comes in VanDerLaan's fifth season on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he has previously held the 54-hole lead three other times without securing a win. With this triumph, he has risen to 15th place on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List. The top 20 players at the end of the season will earn PGA Tour cards for the 2026 season, placing VanDerLaan in a strong position with two events remaining.
VanDerLaan's journey to this milestone has been notable. At Florida Southern, he was a four-time All-American and the 2018 Jack Nicklaus Award winner for NCAA Division II. He also secured seven individual wins during his senior year, including the individual national title at the 2018 NCAA Division II Championship.
VanDerLaan's achievement at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship not only marks a personal milestone in his professional career but also underscores his potential to secure a PGA Tour membership.
