The Ohio Open 2026: 6 Up-and-Coming Ohio Professional Golfers

Harry Zaye | The Ohio Athletic

Blazing heat, muggy air, and harsh shadows engulfed the 54 hole golf course. Silence loomed through the still atmosphere as the driving range and practice greens slowly began to fill up with colorful polos littered with sponsors, stylish golf bags repping clubs and schools, and along with it an immense collective sense of nerves and excitement.

While PGA Tour stars prepare for major championships, Ohio’s next generation of professional golfers spent the beginning of the week grinding through three rounds at the 105th Ohio Open at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. The Ohio Open brings together not only emerging professionals, but also veterans and amateurs to this highly anticipated tournament every year. Nearly 300 players with different backgrounds and journeys competed this week, all of whom sought the same goal: Win.

The mini tour life as a professional golfer is anything but glamorous, and with a prize purse of around $70,000 many Ohio pros look forward to this opportunity which brings the added comfort of being ‘in their own backyard’. Firestone Country Club is an infamous Club and Course not just within Ohio, but highly recognized nationally and internationally having hosted the PGA Tour sanctioned World Golf Championships for more than 15 years; 8 of which were won by the legendary Tiger Woods. Needless to say, this event showcases just how strong golf culture and history are in Ohio, bringing together the best players from every corner of the state to compete at one of the finest venues in the world.

The Ohio Athletic followed six young professionals navigating through the mini tour circuits on Monday through their first round of this year’s Open.

Troy Taylor II

Age: 26 y.o.
Hometown: Westerville, OH
College: NCAA D1 - Michigan State University Men’s Golf
Current Status: APGA Tour

Troy Taylor II represents a new generation of Ohio golfers trying to carve out a professional career beyond the traditional PGA Tour pipeline. The Westerville native and former Michigan State standout arrived at the 105th Ohio Open with one of the strongest résumés in the field, building his name through years of elite junior golf, collegiate success, and national APGA competition. Growing up in central Ohio, Taylor became one of the state’s top high school golfers at Westerville South before developing into a consistent performer for the Spartans, where he earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and multiple top finishes against some of the best collegiate players in the country.

Since turning professional in 2023, Taylor has continued pursuing opportunities through the APGA Tour, a circuit focused on increasing diversity and access within professional golf. His career has already included appearances in Korn Ferry Tour events and national recognition after finishing No. 1 in the 2022-23 APGA Collegiate Rankings. Off the course, his social media presence reflects a calm and disciplined personality — less flashy, more focused on steady growth, practice, travel, and competition. That mindset showed throughout Monday’s round at Firestone Country Club, where Taylor looked comfortable navigating one of Ohio’s most demanding championship venues. Even among a crowded Ohio Open field, the 26-year-old carried himself like someone accustomed to bigger stages, a golfer still chasing the next level of professional golf.

Ali Kahn

Age: 24 y.o.
Hometown: Westerville, OH
College: NCAA D1 - Ball State University Men’s Golf
Current Status: APGA Tour

For Ali Kahn, golf has always been connected to competition, family, and community. Growing up in a golf-focused household with five siblings, the game quickly became part of everyday life. “We were all so competitive,” Kahn said. “We would be out there just competing, going at it after each other.” That competitive environment eventually helped shape him into one of Ohio’s top junior golfers, earning victories on the AJGA circuit and eventually leading him to Ball State University. But even after reaching the professional level, Kahn still speaks about the game with the perspective of someone grounded in Ohio golf culture rather than chasing status. When discussing the Ohio Open, he emphasized how unique the event feels because of the different generations competing together. “You get to see the generations of talent in Ohio golf,” he said. “You’ve got top juniors, college players, and professionals all competing against each other.”

That appreciation for community also comes with an understanding of how difficult professional golf can be behind the scenes. Kahn spoke openly about the uncertainty many mini-tour professionals face week to week. “If you’re not making a check week in and week out, you’re trying to figure out what to do next,” he said. “A lot of the mini tours, you’re really not making money. You’re just trying to make enough to pay for your next entry.” Still, his outlook never felt negative. Instead, it reflected the realism of a golfer fully committed to the grind required to keep pursuing the sport professionally. Whether splitting Airbnbs with other players, driving from tournament to tournament, or preparing for Q-School later this year, Kahn carries himself with the calm maturity of someone who understands both the sacrifice and opportunity that come with professional golf.

Will Grimmer

Age: 29 y.o.
Hometown: Mariemont, OH
College: NCAA D1 - Ohio State University Men’s Golf
Current Status: Korn Ferry Tour & PGA Americas Experience, Teaching Pro

Will Grimmer’s golf journey has always been rooted in Ohio. Growing up in Cincinnati, Grimmer was introduced to the game early by his father, Kevin, who played competitive junior golf himself. “He started playing when he was four,” Kevin said. “He’s always loved it.” That passion quickly developed into one of the country’s top junior careers, eventually leading Grimmer to qualify for the U.S. Open at just 17 years old — a breakthrough moment his father still views as pivotal. “He was tiny at the time, maybe 125 pounds,” Kevin said. “But qualifying for the U.S. Open gave him a lot of motivation.” From junior golf to Ohio State and eventually professional golf, Grimmer’s path reflects the strength of Ohio’s developmental golf system. Kevin pointed to opportunities through the Greater Cincinnati Golf Association, PGA sections, and elite amateur tournaments as key reasons Ohio continues producing high-level players. “There’s no shortage of opportunities,” he said. “There’s a really wide spectrum of junior golf here.”

But beyond the accolades and tournament résumés, the Grimmers also spoke honestly about the realities of professional golf. Kevin described the life of mini-tour and Korn Ferry-level players as a constant mental challenge, where small margins separate success from disappointment. “People don’t realize how hard it is,” he said. “You can shoot 64 in a Monday qualifier and still end up in a playoff just to get in.” Even strong tournament rounds can quickly become missed cuts against increasingly competitive professional fields. “It takes a lot of mental fortitude to keep grinding,” Kevin said. That grind has become part of Will’s everyday life — balancing travel, tournament schedules, and teaching lessons through his own golf studio while continuing to pursue higher-level tour opportunities. Still, through all of it, one thing has remained constant. “He loves it,” Kevin said. And watching Will walk the fairways at Firestone on Monday, that passion for the game was still easy to see.

Griffin Mitchell

Age: 24 y.o.
Hometown: New Albany , OH
College: NCAA D1 - Drexel University Men’s Golf
Current Status: Non-Exempt Professional

Griffin Mitchell’s journey into golf started casually on the par-three course at Columbus Country Club, where his grandfather would bring him and his siblings to play as kids. But the sport became more serious once he began watching older players around Columbus Academy develop into elite golfers. “I wanted to be like Ali [Kahn] and Kamar,” Mitchell said. “The history of Academy and good golf teams and good golfers makes you want to be a part of it.” That environment eventually pushed Mitchell to continue his career at Drexel University, where he says he learned as much from the people around him as the game itself. “I absorbed as much information as I could from the guys around me,” he said. “We had a great team, great coaches, and it was easy to learn from them.” Even now, Mitchell still describes Ohio golf culture less as a rivalry and more as a connected community. “It’s kind of like a brotherhood,” he said. “When I tell people I’m from Columbus, they know the courses [Muirfield, Scioto CC, The Golf Club, etc.] and they think it’s cool.”

While Mitchell’s personality off the course feels relaxed and reflective, his perspective on professional golf revealed the mental challenges that come with chasing the sport full time. “It’s pretty lonely,” he admitted. “Your whole mood is depending on how you play.” Unlike college golf, where teammates and structure surround players daily, professional golf often means long travel weeks, unfamiliar cities, and learning how to manage emotions independently. Mitchell called it “mental warfare,” explaining that one of the biggest lessons in golf is learning how to stay steady regardless of results. “As nerve-wracking as it is, it means something because you’re feeling something,” he said. “The more uncomfortable you can get, the better.” That mindset — embracing discomfort rather than avoiding it — has become central to how Mitchell approaches both golf and life as a young professional.

Brett Podobinski

Age: 22 y.o.
Hometown: Dublin, OH
College: NCAA D1 - Miami University Men’s Golf
Current Status: Non-Exempt Professional

Brett Podobinski arrived at Firestone carrying the momentum of a strong collegiate career at Miami University, where the Dublin native developed into one of the Mid-American Conference’s most reliable players. A multiple-time All-MAC selection, Podobinski steadily improved throughout college and helped establish himself as one of the better young golfers in Ohio’s college ranks. His game has been built on consistency, discipline, and steady development rather than sudden flashes, the type of progression common among golfers trying to transition from collegiate success into professional competition.

That maturity translated well during the opening round of the Ohio Open. Podobinski appeared composed throughout the day, handling Firestone’s demanding layout with patience beyond his age. Rather than forcing risky shots, he trusted his process and stayed within himself even when conditions became difficult. For younger professionals and recent college players, the Ohio Open provides a rare opportunity to compete alongside veteran professionals and experienced tour players, and Podobinski looked comfortable in that environment. His round felt less like a learning experience and more like another step forward in a steadily growing golf career.

Jordan Gilkinson

Age: 27 y.o.
Hometown: Springboro, OH
College: NCAA D1 - Kent State University Men’s Golf
Current Status: Minor League Golf Tour

Jordan Gilkinson arrived at the 105th Ohio Open carrying one of the most notable accomplishments of any player in the field. In 2022, the former Kent State golfer became the first amateur in more than four decades to win the Ohio Open, a breakthrough victory that immediately cemented his place within the state’s golf history. Competing against experienced professionals while still an amateur, Gilkinson’s win represented both the depth of Ohio golf talent and the growing reputation he had built throughout his collegiate and amateur career.

That confidence and experience remained evident throughout Monday’s round at Firestone Country Club. Gilkinson carried himself with the calm demeanor of someone familiar with the pressure that comes with major Ohio golf events, never appearing overwhelmed by the stage or the course itself. But like many professionals now trying to climb further within the sport, his journey has evolved beyond simply winning amateur tournaments. The transition into professional golf brings a different level of expectation, consistency, and mental endurance. Still, Gilkinson’s presence at the Ohio Open continues to symbolize what makes Ohio golf unique — players capable of competing nationally while remaining deeply connected to the state’s golf culture. Even years after his historic Ohio Open victory, Gilkinson remains part of the next generation of Ohio professionals still chasing bigger opportunities within the game.

Beyond the leaderboard, Monday’s opening round of the 105th Ohio Open highlighted what makes golf in Ohio unique — a culture built on competition, community, and years of shared experience. From junior tournaments and high school rivalries to college golf and professional events, many of the players at Firestone Country Club have grown up competing alongside one another.

That environment has helped Ohio quietly become one of the country’s strongest golf states. Programs like First Tee, elite junior tours, respected instructors, and championship venues such as Firestone and Muirfield Village continue developing high-level talent year after year. But while the culture is strong, the road through professional golf remains difficult. Behind every tournament round is a lifestyle built around travel, financial uncertainty, and constant mental pressure.

That reality was visible throughout Firestone. Some players arrived with national experience and tour starts already on their résumés, while others continue grinding through qualifiers and mini tours searching for their breakthrough. Yet despite the pressure and uncertainty, the passion for the game remained obvious across the field.

For Ohio’s rising professionals, the Ohio Open is more than another tournament. It is a proving ground — a chance to compete against elite talent, test themselves on one of the state’s most historic courses, and continue chasing the next level of professional golf.

Final Results Thru 54:

Troy Taylor II - T20

Ali Kahn - MC (T63)

Will Grimmer - T6

Griffin Mitchell - 17

Brett Podobinski - T26

Jordan Gilkinson - T12