Yuta Sugiura birdied the final three holes to win the AdventHealth Championship by one stroke over Austin Hitt. His 7-under 65 secured a first Korn Ferry Tour title in his 19th career start.

The first-year member finished at 29-under 259, while Hitt produced a bogey-free 12-under 60 to reach 28 under. Sugiura’s closing run across the two par-4s and par-5 18th held off the lowest final round of Hitt’s career.

Sugiura became the 20th player in Korn Ferry Tour history to birdie each of the final three holes of regulation and win. Jeremy Gandon most recently achieved the feat at the 2026 LECOM Suncoast Classic.

When he needed it most 🏆

Yuta Sugiura capped it off with a dart on the 72nd hole for his third straight birdie. pic.twitter.com/eI6afATREr

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 23, 2026

Sugiura converts his first 54-hole lead

Sugiura began the week with a career-low 10-under 62 and entered the final round holding a 54-hole lead or co-lead for the first time on the Korn Ferry Tour. He converted that opportunity despite Hitt’s charge.

The champion’s 29-under total tied the sixth-lowest 72-hole score relative to par in Korn Ferry Tour history. It was the lowest winning total in relation to par since Tommy Morrison posted 29-under 255 at the 2026 Evans Scholars Invitational.

Sugiura also became the third Japanese player to win on the circuit. Ryuji Imada won the 2000 Virginia Beach Open and 2004 BMW Charity Pro-Am, while Kaito Onishi captured the 2024 UNC Health Championship.

The Aichi golfer reached the Korn Ferry Tour by advancing through First Stage and Second Stage at 2025 PGA Tour Q-School, then finishing tied for 29th at Final Stage. That result earned him membership for the 2026 season.

Before moving to the United States, Sugiura spent three seasons on the Japan Golf Tour and collected three titles. His first came at the 2023 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament while he was still an amateur, and he turned professional immediately after the victory.

Trailing by two strokes with three holes to play Sunday, what was Yuta Sugiura thinking?

"Make three birdies."

He did just that to earn his first Korn Ferry Tour title @AHChampGolf1 … and a trophy presented by Tom Watson 🏆 pic.twitter.com/R2LqmIo6Tk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 24, 2026

Hitt sets runner-up scoring record

Hitt’s 28-under 260 established the lowest 72-hole score relative to par by a runner-up in Korn Ferry Tour history, beating the previous mark of 27 under. The result was his second career runner-up finish and strengthened his position at No. 22 on the points list.

Mahanth Chirravuri placed third at 25-under for his first career podium in ten Tour starts. Davis Shore and Sandy Scott shared fourth at 24-under, with Scott matching his career-low round through a bogey-free 63.

The tournament also determined the field for the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, the first of four Korn Ferry Tour Finals events. The top 156 players on the points list qualified, with Kevin Tway projected to climb from No. 158 to No. 156 after finishing tied for 50th at 17 under.

Korn Ferry Tour win No. 1 for Yuta Sugiura 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ffSmQZaFVo

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 23, 2026

Related: Miyu Yamashita Matches LPGA 72-Hole Record in Wire-to-Wire CPKC Women’s Open Win

The Japanese star finished on 23-under 257 at Royal Mayfair, breaking the Canadian championship record after leading from the opening round.

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