US college student Kihei Akina, who captured National Collegiate Athletic Association Freshman of the Year honours last season and is playing in the PGA Tour’s Bank of Utah Championship on a sponsor’s invitation this week, has signed an agreement to represent PING.
As part of the NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) agreement, Akina will play 14 PING clubs, carry a PING bag and wear a PING hat in all tournaments and appearances outside of his collegiate events.
The 20-year-old native of Hawaii starred at Lone Peak High School in Alpine, Utah, where he won three individual state titles and led the team to two state championships before joining Brigham Young University in 2025 as one of the most highly sought-after players in the country, receiving offers from 50 golf programmes.
He won twice during his freshman season last year and earned a spot on the 2026 US Walker Cup team. As a 19-year-old, Akina became the youngest winner of the Utah Open Championship in more than 90 years.
“Kihei has quickly put his name on the list of the top young golfers in the world,” said PING CEO & President John K Solheim. “He had a phenomenal junior career, and that level of play has continued into college where he’s already received numerous accolades for his performance.
“We’re pleased to add him to our team and look forward to following his progress as an amateur and beyond. He’s already played in four PGA Tour events, proving he can compete at the highest level. He’s a very personable young man who plays the game with a lot of skill and passion.”
“Joining PING at this point in my career is a tremendous honour,” said Akina, who finished 8th at the 2026 NCAA Championships. “I’ve been playing PING equipment since my junior days, and I’ve developed a great relationship with their team since arriving at BYU. Their knowledge of equipment and custom fitting makes a huge difference in my game and helps give me the confidence I need to advance my career and achieve the goals I’ve set for myself. I’m excited to be part of the PING family.”