Reflecting on the 2025 Barracuda Championship: Gerard’s Victory and the Impact of Eagles for Innovation

In a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Barracuda Championship, Ryan Gerard emerged as the champion winner among a competitive field of 156 players, securing his first PGA TOUR win. This win marks the ninth time in the past 10 years that a first-time PGA TOUR winner has triumphed at the Barracuda Championship.

“It’s just like a culmination of a lifetime of work,” Gerard said. “I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent hitting golf balls dreaming of winning on the PGA TOUR. Yeah, it’s really special.”

The 25-year-old golfer clinched the title by a narrow margin of three points, edging out former Barracuda Champion Erik van Rooyen, who still holds the tournament record from his 2021 win. Van Rooyen finished in second place this year. In the final round, Gerard showcased his skill with an impressive 20-foot eagle putt on the third hole, followed by a remarkable 35-foot eagle putt on the 11th hole. These key shots helped propel him ahead of the competition.

Eagles for Innovation: Driving change through golf

While Gerard’s impressive win was a highlight, the tournament also marked a major success for our Eagles for Innovation program. 

Competitors collectively scored an impressive 16 eagles on hole 15 — each one worth a $2,000 donation from Barracuda to Girls Who Code. That’s a total of $32,000 raised through eagle-worthy performance alone.

To celebrate Gerard’s two eagles in the final round, Barracuda contributed an additional  $4,000 per eagle, adding another $8,000 to the cause.

In total, we proudly donated $40,000 to Girls Who Code, supporting their work to close the gender gap in tech — one eagle at a time. Girl Who Code is dedicated to inspiring, educating and equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other transformative technologies. 

Since its launch in 2012, Girls Who Code has reached an impressive 760,000 students through both in-person and virtual programming, making a significant impact on young lives. By supporting Girls Who Code, Barracuda is taking an active role in helping youth develop the skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The 2025 Barracuda Championship not only showcased exceptional golfing talent but also highlighted the importance of community support and innovation in shaping the future.