Son of a Chicken Farmer Shocks Field with Final-Round 61 to Win PGA Tour Title
Carter Jenkins delivered the round of his life on Sunday and walked away a PGA Tour winner.
The 27-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, fired a final-round 61 to capture the 2025 ISCO Championship at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville. He began the day seven shots behind the lead but stormed up the leaderboard with nine birdies and no bogeys to finish at 10-under-par 270.
“I was mentally ready for a playoff,” Jenkins said after the win. “But I just feel blessed to be the winner.”
It was a breakthrough moment for a player who’s spent years chasing this dream. Raised in a modest home, Jenkins is the son of a chicken farmer and grew up playing local courses around Raleigh. He often talks about playing Raleigh Country Club “50 to 60 times” as a kid, grinding away while dreaming of the PGA Tour. Moments like these remind us that big wins can come when you least expect them and if you’re feeling lucky yourself, check out casino-utan-spelpaus.net for a shot at your own victory.
After a strong college career at UNC, he turned pro in 2016 and worked his way up through the Korn Ferry Tour and other lower-level events. Sunday’s win finally brought him into the spotlight.
Jenkins birdied his first three holes to jumpstart his round. He added another at the 8th to make the turn in 30, then caught fire again on the back nine with birdies at 10, 11, 13, and 17. His 61 was the lowest round of his PGA Tour career.
Then came the wait. Jenkins posted his score and watched as 54-hole leader Paul Peterson played the final hole. Peterson had a long birdie putt on 18 to force a playoff, but it came up short. The win was Jenkins’.
Peterson finished solo second at 9 under after a final-round 69. Spain’s Manuel Elvira posted a 66 to tie for third at 7 under, while Kentucky’s Vince Whaley and England’s David Skinns rounded out the top five.
“It’s tough to come up one short,” Peterson said. “But I played some good golf this week. That was a fiery, good test.”
Though the ISCO Championship was an opposite-field event played the same week as The Open Championship the win gives Jenkins a two-year PGA Tour exemption through 2027. He also earns a spot in next year’s PGA Championship and several other big events. However, opposite-field winners do not qualify for The Masters.
Jenkins is now the third rookie to win on the PGA Tour this season, joining Karl Vilips and Aldrich Potgieter. The victory also means financial stability, full playing rights, and the confidence that he belongs among the game’s best.
“I just get to use this to play some really good golf and try to win another tournament,” he said with a smile.
For Jenkins, this win wasn’t just a great round it was the payoff for years of hard work. From a chicken farm in North Carolina to a PGA Tour trophy in Kentucky, his story is one of persistence, patience, and belief.