Kieron van Wyk

Kieron van Wyk
Personal information
Born (2002-01-15) January 15, 2002
Ruimsig, South Africa.
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Sporting nationality South Africa
ResidenceCharleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Career
CollegeCollege of Charleston
Turned professional2025
Current tour(s)Korn Ferry Tour
Achievements and awards
CAA Player of the Year2022, 2023, 2025
Adrian Stills Award2022

Kieron van Wyk (born January 15, 2002) is a South African professional golfer. He played collegiately at the College of Charleston, where he became the first three-time CAA Player of the Year in history, and the first Black player to win the CAA Individual Championship in 2022.[1]

Early life

Kieron van Wyk was born on January 15, 2002, in Ruimsig, South Africa and attended Curro Aurora High School. As a freshman he helped lead the school's golf team to a South African High School Championship in 2018.[2]

Amateur career

After back-to-back runner up finishes in South African Stroke Play and the African Amateur Championships, van Wyk was invited to represent South Africa at the 2021 Spirit International. He, along with captain and teammate Christo Lamprecht, led South Africa to finish eighth overall and fifth in the men's event.[3]

Van Wyk enrolled at the College of Charleston and started playing with he Charleston Cougars golf team, where as a freshman in 2022 he recorded one of the best seasons in program history. He won his first collegiate tournament, the Schenkel Invitational, on March 20, 2022, after posting a career-best round of 66 on the first day of play.[4] On April 26, 2022, van Wyk won the CAA Championship by shooting 13 under par, tying the conference's tournament record. He became the first Black player to ever win the CAA Championship, and was named CAA Player of the Year at the conclusion of the season. His top-5 finish at the NCAA Regional in Palm Springs, Florida allowed the Cougars to advance to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2001.[5][6] After the season van Wyk was presented with the inaugural Adrian Stills Award for the Black College Golfer of the Year.[7]

On June 14, 2023, van Wyk won the Harry Oppenheimer Trophy at the Maccauvlei Golf Club in Vereeniging, South Africa.[8] On October 11, 2023, van Wyk won the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate Invitational in Jonesborough, Tennessee.[9] He was named CAA Player of the Year for the second year in a row, and finished tied for 48th individually at the NCAA Regional in Salem, South Carolina.[10][11][12]

On April 23, 2024, van Wyk won his second CAA Championship title by shooting 13 under par, once again tying the conference's tournament record.[13] He finished 50th individually at the NCAA Regional in West Lafayette, Indiana.[14] On October 27, 2024, van Wyk won the White Sands Bahamas Men’s Golf Invitational after finishing 21 strokes under par, a new tournament record, resulting in an invitation to the 2025 Puerto Rico Open.[15]

On January 26, 2025, van Wyk debuted on the APGA Tour and won the Farmers Insurance Invitational at the historic Torrey Pines Golf Course, making him the first amateur to win an APGA event since the tour's creation in 2010.[16] van Wyk made his PGA Tour debut in the 2025 Puerto Rico Open at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, having earned a spot through winning the 2024 White Sands Bahamas Invitational. He made the cut, and despite entering the final day of play in second place, finished tied for fourth place overall.[17][18] After finishing in the top 10 of the Puerto Rico open, van Wyk was invited to his second PGA Tour event, the 2025 Valspar Championship, where he missed the cut.[19] On March 25, 2025, van Wyk won the Hootie at Bulls Bay Invitational.[20][21]

After shooting -1 par for a 12th place individually at the NCAA Regional in Auburn, Alabama, and finishing the season ranked No. 27 among collegiate golfers, van Wyk became the first player in history to be named CAA Player of the Year three separate times. He was also named to the All-American Third Team by the GCAA, making him the first All-American golfer in program history.[22][23][24]

Professional career

Kieron van Wyk made his Korn Ferry Tour debut in May of 2025, as he shot +2 over par to miss the cut at the UNC Health Championship.[25][26]

Awards and honors

  • 3× CAA Golfer of the Year (2022, 2023, 2025)
  • 2× CAA Champion (2022, 2024)
  • 4× All-CAA First Team (2022–2025)
  • GCAA All-American Third Team (2025)
  • BCGCA Adrian Stills Award (2022)

Personal life

Kieron van Wyk has one sibling, a sister. His favorite golfer is Tiger Woods.[27]

Amateur wins

  • 2022 Schenkel Invitational, CAA Championship
  • 2023 Harry Oppenheimer Trophy, Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate
  • 2024 CAA Championship, White Sands Bahamas Collegiate
  • 2025 APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational, Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate

Source:[28]

Team appearances

References

  1. ^ Martin, Sean. "Five things to know: Kieron van Wyk - PGA TOUR". www.pgatour.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  2. ^ golfeditor (August 2, 2018). "Curro Aurora has early control at SA High School Champs". Golf RSA. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  3. ^ golfeditor (November 10, 2021). "Team SA seals top 10 in The Spirit USA". Golf RSA. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  4. ^ Golfweek. "College Performers of the Week powered by Rapsodo: Kieron van Wyk, College of Charleston". Golfweek. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  5. ^ McQuiggan, Miles. "Charleston Captures Sixth CAA Title Since 2014 With 27-Under Score". caasports.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  6. ^ McQuiggan, Miles. "Charleston Sweeps Major All-CAA Honors for 2021-22 Men's Golf Season". caasports.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  7. ^ Mackey, Adam. "Inaugural Black College Golf Coaches Association Awards Announced". GCAA. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  8. ^ Fitchat, Retha (July 5, 2023). "2023 Harry Oppenheimer Trophy at Maccauvlei Golf Club". Vaalweekblad. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  9. ^ "van Wyk Post Two Bogey Free Rounds for Medalist Honors". College of Charleston Athletics. March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  10. ^ McQuiggan, Miles. "UNCW Selected for NCAA Norman Regional; Charleston's van Wyk Headed to Salem". caasports.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  11. ^ McQuiggan, Miles. "Charleston, Delaware, UNCW Earn Major Award Honors for 2022-23 CAA Men's Golf Season". caasports.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  12. ^ Charleston & UNCW Athletic Communications. "UNCW, Charleston's van Wyk Close Seasons at NCAA Regionals". caasports.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  13. ^ McQuiggan, Miles. "Charleston Surges to CAA Men's Golf Title with Record Performance". caasports.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  14. ^ Washburn, Rob. "CAA Men's Golfers Complete Play At NCAA Regionals". caasports.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  15. ^ "Van Wyk Leads the College of Charleston to the Title at White Sands Bahamas NCAA Men's Golf Invitational After Round Three – White Sands Bahamas Golf Series". Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  16. ^ Staff. "Kieron van Wyk becomes first amateur to win APGA event at season-opening Farmers Insurance Invitational - PGA TOUR". www.pgatour.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  17. ^ Schupak, Adam. "Amateur making PGA Tour debut trails by 1 stroke at Puerto Rico Open". Golfweek. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  18. ^ "Amateur Kieron van Wyk finishes T4 at Puerto Rico Open". AmateurGolf.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  19. ^ "Amateur golfer wants to inspire the next generation". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  20. ^ "Purdue wins Hootie at Bulls Bay in a playoff over South Carolina". AmateurGolf.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  21. ^ "van Wyk Wins Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate". College of Charleston Athletics. March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  22. ^ Smith, Dylan. "Charleston' van Wyk Makes History; Campbell's Killingstad and Elon's Hill Nab 2025 CAA Men's Golf Postseason Awards". caasports.com. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  23. ^ Smith, Dylan. "Charleston's van Wyk Tabbed PING and Golfweek Third Team All-American". caasports.com. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  24. ^ Jourdan, Cameron. "Golfweek's 2024-25 Men's College Golf All-Americans". Golfweek. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  25. ^ reports, Staff and wire (May 28, 2025). "Golf roundup: CofC's van Wyk to make pro golf debut". Post and Courier. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  26. ^ "van Wyk Named Golfweek All-American". College of Charleston Athletics. May 28, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  27. ^ "Kieron van Wyk - Men's Golf". College of Charleston Athletics. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  28. ^ "The World Amateur Golf Rankings® (WAGR®) | The Official Men's and Women's Amateur Golf Rankings". WAGR. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
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