Former Kent State golfer Mackenzie Hughes captured his first PGA Tour victory during The RSM Classic.

The 2012 graduate and PGA Tour rookie took home $1.08 million and a three-year Tour exemption, along with invitations to The Masters, The PGA Championship, and The Players Championship.

This was Hughes’ ninth PGA tour event, in which he opened ranked 287th in the world.

“I texted Mac on Saturday night after the third round and said ‘What a great finish. You have learned to be a very patient player. I’m happy for you,’ ” said men’s golf head coach Herb Page in a press release. “He texted back and said ‘I have become more patient. I’m going to need that tomorrow.’ “

Hughes was a two-time Academic All-American at Kent State and earned a degree in business administration. He helped the Flashes achieve a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championship as a senior.

Stephen Means is the sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].