Ben Kohles has been named 2023 Korn Ferry Tour player of the year, as announced on Wednesday.
The 33-year old finished No. 1 on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Points List behind his two victories: the astara Chile Classic and HomeTown Lenders Championship. The 33-year-old finished No. 1 on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, thanks to his two victories – the astara Chili Classic and HomeTown Lenders Championship. Kohles has also had eight top-10 finishes, four of which came in the last five events of the year. Kohles started 23 times in the 26-event tour season and had the fourth lowest scoring average (68.80) on the circuit.
Kohles was granted full exemption for the 2024 PGA Tour season, as well as the U.S. Open and Players Championship in 2024. Kohles’ No. 1 finish in the Korn Ferry Tour Points List earned him full exemption for the 2024 PGA Tour Season, as well 2024 U.S. Open, and 2024 Players Championship. Kohles earned PGA Tour membership for the third time, having previously received a Tour Card following the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour and 2012 seasons.
Both Kohles wins were in April. Kohles won his first PGA Tour sanctioned title since his debut season on the Korn Ferry Tour, in 2012. Kohles’ win in Chile was followed by his victory at the HomeTown Lenders Championship, which he won after a sudden death two-hole playoff. This is his fourth Korn Ferry Tour title.
Kohles became a professional golfer in 2012, after a decorated college career at Virginia. He was a two-time All-American as well as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Player of the Year in both 2010 and 2011, and a back-to-back winner. Kohles became the first player (and still the only one) in Korn Ferry Tour’s history to win both of his first starts. He won the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship 2012 and the Cox Classic.
Kohles’ 2024 PGA Tour debut will be at the Sony Open this week in Hawaii.
