Who Is Kieron Van Wyk? Everything About the New APGA Amateur Star Explored

“I’m proud of myself and how I did,” says 23-year-old Kieron van Wyk. And honestly, the golfing world is with him on this one. While the sport often hails big names like Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the rising stars who are making waves.

Recently, South African native, Van Wyk made history by becoming the first amateur golfer to win an APGA event since the tour began in 2010. Can you imagine the rush of your first win? Just ask Van Wyk—he’s over the moon right now, but this is just the beginning for him.

What makes his story even cooler is that, at 23, Van Wyk had never even been to California before this week. He’d never seen the Torrey Pines South Course until he walked around it outside the ropes on Saturday while following groups in the final round of the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open.

Fast forward to the 18th tee, and Van Wyk hits a monster drive over 350 yards, followed by a 7-iron approach from 187 yards that trickled onto the back fringe. Then, he made the victory shot with a chip to within one foot for a winning birdie. But this shiny trophy he recently cliched didn’t come to him in just a day. He has been putting in the work for years.

How did Kieron van Wyk’s career look like before the APGA win?

You may not know him just yet, but he’s a name you’ll remember for a long time. As we celebrate his victory, it’s worth noting he’s no stranger to winning. That said, let’s talk about numbers. He holds the 133rd rank in the WAGR, a point average of 685.2354, with 3 wins and 7 top-10 finishes in amateur tournaments. Clearly, the guy knows how to play.

He earned his spot in the APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational as the top player in the 2024-25 Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking as of October 2024. This year, he’s on the Haskins Award Watch List, and in October, he shot an insane 21-under for 54 holes to win the White Sands Bahamas Men’s NCAA Golf Invitational, which earned him his first PGA Tour start in the Puerto Rico Open.

Last season, Van Wyk was named First Team All-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) for the third year in a row, and in 2022, he made history as the first Black golfer in CAA history to win individual medalist honors at the conference tournament.

If you thought Van Wyk’s journey was impressive so far, hold on, there is more to come. He’s also the first golfer to be granted P-1 status in the NIL era, which means we can expect to see him score some solid endorsement deals in the future.

His journey beyond golf?

Van Wyk wasn’t always a golf person. He grew up in the suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa and interestingly he was an academy-level soccer player. Soon after, his dad introduced him to golf, and the rest is history. After attending Curro Aurora High School in Johannesburg, he moved to the United States to pursue his education alongside golf at the College of Charleston.

Van Wyk was different from the start. While many students visited campuses in person, he made a long-distance commitment to College of Charleston’s head golf coach, Mitch Krywulycz, without ever stepping foot on the campus during COVID-19. But thanks to his keen observation and dedication, his skills are now undeniable, as we recently got to see.

While living out his dream and following his passion for golf, Van Wyk remains deeply connected to his South African roots.“I feel like I’m more productive over there. Back home in South Africa, it’s become a holiday for me when I come home, seeing family, seeing friends. But when I’m over there, I know why I’m there, and it’s only for one purpose, to get better each and every day. So I’ve found that I’ve been more productive, more focused, and it’s allowed me to get closer each and every day to my goals and my dreams.” he said in an interview.

Kieron van Wyk is just getting started, and if his record is any indication, the best is yet to come.