VanArragon Eyes First Korn Ferry Tour Win in Bahamas Before Late Bogeys Spoil Chances

  GREAT ABACO, Bahamas – Looking to make a run over the final 10 holes Wednesday at The Great Abaco Classic in hopes of earning his first Korn Ferry Tour victory, Minnesotan Caleb VanArragon instead stalled down the stretch, on his way to a round of 4-over 76, finishing eight shots back.

VanArragon climbed into a share of second place by carding three birdies over the first eight holes of the final round, but he would take a quadruple-bogey at the par-4 ninth before tallying three bogeys over his final nine holes to finish tied for 17th at 4-under 284 for his second top-20 finish in as many starts.

The Blaine, Minn., native, tallied four birdies over his final five holes Sunday to open the championship Sunday with a 4-under 68.

Carding three birdies against four bogeys during his second round Monday, VanArragon answered by firing a 67 during his third round to move into a share of third, three shots back of the lead with 18 holes to play.

A week ago, the 24-year-old VanArragon followed his 7-under 65 during the third round with a 68 over his final 18 holes to place 13th at The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island.

Making his second career start on tour this week, Minnesotan Derek Hitchner posted a 1-under 71 during his final round Wednesday to finish tied for 48th.

The former Blake School star and Pepperdine University golfer enjoyed a late-season push on the PGA Tour Americas in 2025 to finish sixth in the Fortinet Cup standings to earn his status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the 2026 season.

Hitchner, from Minneapolis, missed the cut at last week’s Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island.

Holding the 54-hole lead for the first time in his career, Ian Holt, a 30-year-old native of Ohio, claimed a one-stroke victory with a final-round 71 Wednesday to claim the first victory during his four years on the Korn Ferry Tour.

A former Kent State University golfer, Holt has made 45 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour since turning professional in 2018, earning a pair of top-5 finishes.

The Korn Ferry Tour continues south next week when The Panama Championship gets underway Thursday in Panama City.