Austin Barbin Wins 2026 Philadelphia Players Championship

Austin wins Emotional Victory

BUCKINGHAM, PA, September 21, 2026 — PGA of America Golf Professional Austin Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club delivered a memorable performance at Lookaway Golf Club, capturing the 2026 Philadelphia Players Championship with a final-round score of 5-under-par.

But for Barbin, this victory was about far more than winning a championship.

It was about his mom.

Before teeing off, Barbin wrote one word on his golf glove: “Mom.” His mother was undergoing major surgery that same day, giving him a deeply personal reason to play his best.

“I was playing for something more than myself,” Barbin said after his round. “My Mom had a really big surgery today, and on my glove before the round, I wrote Mom, so I would play for not myself.”

That motivation helped Barbin summon his best golf when the championship was on the line.

Entering the final three holes, Barbin looked at the leaderboard and saw Brian Bergstol and Riley Wheeldon sitting at 5-under-par. Knowing he needed to reach that number to have a chance, Barbin locked in and finished his round with the focus and determination of a player who knew exactly what he was playing for.

“The last three holes, I looked at the leaderboard and I saw Bergstol and Riley up at 5-under-par, and I knew I had to get to five, so I just locked in,” Barbin said. “Honestly, it was a blacking out and zoning in kind of deal.”

That late-round focus proved to be the difference, as Barbin finished at 5-under-par to claim the Philadelphia Players Championship title and the $6,000 first-place prize.

The victory adds another significant accomplishment to an already impressive year for the Chesapeake Bay Golf Club professional. Barbin has established himself as one of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s top competitors, and his performance at Lookaway Golf Club once again showcased his ability to rise to the occasion when the pressure is at its highest.

Following his victory, Barbin expressed his gratitude to those who have supported him throughout his career. He thanked God, Scott and Karen Hutchinson for their generosity, Lookaway Golf Club and its members, his wife Kasey, his parents, and the members of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club.

The championship’s presenting partners, Scott and Karen Hutchinson, helped make the event one of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s most lucrative, with a purse exceeding $25,000 and $6,000 awarded to the champion.

Barbin finished one stroke ahead of Riley Wheeldon of Aronimink Golf Club, who placed second at 4-under-par.

For Austin Barbin, however, the day will be remembered for something much more personal than a trophy or a paycheck.

With the word “Mom” written on his glove, Barbin stepped onto the course with a purpose — and finished the day as the 2026 Philadelphia Players Champion.

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Photo and Source: Philadelphia PGA