Andrew's LECOM Suncoast Classic (KFT) Preview (2025)

The Korn Ferry Tour has taken a much shorter break this time and is back after the players presumably stopped to watch The Masters and remind themselves of the long-term target. It means that I’m doing double duty and producing a second article here, but the good news is, this one comes with even more course history and lots to get our teeth into. Let’s dive in.

The Tournament

We’re deep in golf country this week, at Lakewood National, just inland from the southern end of Tampa Bay. Everything about this is underwhelming to me, I’m afraid. There’s nothing about the flat, wet, condo-lined artificial courses in this part of the world that appeals, and if this was a better course, the PGA would send the bigs there. Instead it is a long-term KFT host (this is the seventh year.) I also had to google the sponsor (Lake Erie College of Medicine. No, me neither. I did check, that really is the right LECOM. They sponsor a nearby baseball field where the Pirates do spring training, too. I don’t get it, but who am I to ask questions? I guess their money is as good as anyone else’s.

Anyone, enough of my negativity. What we can see is that this is an illustrious roll of honour, with some PGA regulars winning or taking up high places. If you only look at last year’s results you’ll see a bomber’s paradise, and the question is how accurate that impression will be. Certainly length of the tee is a plus, but at 7,133 yards (par 71) this isn’t a huge course. Whilst Tim Wilding won it, the course record is held by Mark Hubbard, nobody’s idea of a bomber, especially back in 2019. I’m keen to see some length but course or regional form, streaky putting and the ability to go low are just as important.

It should be dry and warm throughout and in these parts the absence of thunder is always a relief. There’s a bit of wind over the weekend but with Thursday and Friday comparatively calm I am not expecting a draw bias and I doubt conditions will be a factor. As far as I can see, it has been a drier March than normal, and drier than last year, which again makes me think that the bombers aren’t the only guys with a chance.

Selections

In a market headed once again by John Keefer and Kensei Hirata, I once again have a fear of missing out. However, with Corales Puntacana on the schedule, we don’t have any PGA regulars dropping down to play a cheeky “home game” against weaker opposition as is sometimes the case. I did look at Keefer, and I found Christo Lamprecht hard to resist. Cody Blick, sixth last year and sixth last week was also hard to ignore at a big price (you can get 125/1 if you shop around.) In the end, though, my list was easy enough to make once I accepted I’d be taking four guys instead of my preferred three.

First and shortest priced of these is Seonghyeon Kim (S.H. Kim in some places,) about whom regular readers will be sick of hearing. This is the third time this season I’ve backed Kim. He’s having a good year back on this tour (having been second for us on both occasions, first losing in a playoff at 80/1, then finishing in a tie for second at 45/1) and is ranked fifth on the KFT season-long rankings. He also has course form, having come second here back in 2022 before graduating to the PGA Tour. Of course I worry about the lack of wins on his resume, but I think it is only a matter of time at this level and it could easily be this week.

If Kim can’t convert the victory, Ross Steelman is my idea of the best value to take him on. Steelman has been a favourite of mine since before he turned professional, leaving Georgia Tech as the world’s 18th best amateur on the back of a runner-up finish in the NCAAs in 2023. He’s been solid but not spectacular since joining the KFT but this is close to a home event for this native of the south east (he’s from Missouri) and he’s always played well around here. He was 20th in this last year and with the course experience this powerful young man can take a step towards a PGA card that I think he will win this year (he’s 32nd currently, with two top ten finishes.) 

Another recent NCAA graduate is Austin Greaser, who got to fourth in the Amateur rankings when starring at North Carolina. As the KFT went around the world, he looked pretty ordinary, and it is unsurprising that he returned to form on familiar territory with a 15th at the Club Car. This more straightforward course will reward his length of the tee and suit far better. He’s simply too good to be available at this price and I think he’ll be high on leaderboards consistently now that we’re seeing the sort of golf he’s learned to play. Unfortunately the early 150/1 is gone but he is still an appealing price.

Finally, I’m taking a risk at an appealing price on an even younger player. With Blades Brown in the field, it is almost unsurprising that Miles Russell is here. Well, it shouldn’t be. He’s sixteen. That, by the way, is pretty young to be playing a golf tournament against grown men (stop me if this analysis gets too complicated.) Of course it is true that “just getting here is a victory” and of course it is silly to expect anything. Still, I do. He’s just that good, already. Despite competing mostly in Junior events he’s climbed to 26th in the WAGR, having won five of his last seven starts at amateur level. Oh, and he was in this last year and finished 20th. He has absolutely improved since then. There’s loads for him to overcome to win this, and it would be a massive story, but I genuinely believe he’s good enough to do it. The week after we saw the best golfer since Tiger achieve immortality, perhaps the best of the next generation will take another step towards greatness?

• Seonghyeon (S.H.) Kim, 25/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 6 placesB, oylesports.

• Miles Russell, 66/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 6 places, Sporting Index.

• Ross Steelman, 100/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 6 places, Skybet.

• Austin Greaser, 125/1, 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 6 places, Boylesports.