Since April of 2024, Neal Shipley has been the topic of plenty of conversations.

After becoming the first player since Viktor Hovland to earn Low Amateur honors at the Masters and U.S. Open, Shipley began his professional career at the 2024 Times Colonist Victoria Open presented by Andrew Sheret Limited. Despite success on PGA TOUR Americas last summer, Shipley was left searching for his first win as a professional.

After knocking on the door of victory numerous times across PGA TOUR Americas and Korn Ferry Tour, Shipley broke through on Saturday at the LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood Ranch Golf Club in Sarasota, Florida, for his first career win on the Korn Ferry Tour.

The "Full Swing" star has a knack for the spotlight, whether it’s on Netflix or on the course. After 72 holes, Shipley and Seungtaek Lee both stood at 18-under and went to a sudden-death playoff. Through four playoff holes, the two were in a standstill until Shipley broke the tie with a birdie on the fifth and final hole.

Shipley is the sixth first-time winner and second rookie to win on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025. After beginning the season with conditional Korn Ferry Tour status, Shipley has climbed up the points list with top-15 finishes at The Panama Championship (T9) and the Astara Chile Classic (T15). With his win, Shipley moves up to No. 3 in the Korn Ferry Tour Points List and puts himself in good position to earn one of the 20 PGA TOUR cards available at the conclusion of this season.

In addition to Shipley, ECP Brazil Open winner Maxwell Moldovan Monday qualified into the LECOM Suncoast Classic and went on to finish T54 two weeks after his maiden victory on PGA TOUR Americas.

On TOUR, a pair of PGA TOUR Canada alums made significant jumps up the FedExCup points list after strong showings at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Andrew Novak registered his best finish of the season, with a runner-up finish in his 13th start of the season. Novak has now finished in the top-three at the RBC Heritage (second), Valero Texas Open (T3) and the Farmers insurance Open (third) and is now 15th in the FedExCup. In 11 starts on PGA TOUR Canada in 2017, Novak posted a pair of top-25s, including a T19 at the Times Colonist Victoria Open presented by Andrew Sheret Limited.

Mackenzie Hughes also registered back-to-back top-10 finishes for the first time this season after a T3 finish at Harbour Town. This was Hughes’ first start since the Texas Children’s Houston Open, where he finished 10th. Hughes made 24 stars on PGA TOUR Canada from 2011-15, and he finished 13th in the Fortinet Cup in 2015 behind the strength of seven top-25 finishes, including a T3 at the ATB Classic.

Novak and fellow PGA TOUR Canada alum Ben Griffin will team up this week on TOUR at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the lone team event on TOUR. Shipley is back in action after his win and is in the field at the Veritex Bank Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour. PGA TOUR Americas returns this week in Quito, Ecuador at the KIA Open, where Thomas Longbella will look to defend his title from 2024.