23-year-old South African becomes first amateur winner on APGA Tour at Farmers Insurance Invitational

Amateur Kieron van Wyk made history on Sunday, January 26, winning the Farmers Insurance Invitational. With this win, the 23-year-old golfer became the first-ever amateur to win on the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour.

On Saturday, January 26, van Wyk began the weekend with a 3-over-par 75 on the North Course, followed by a 1-under-par 71 on the tough South Course. He was joined by Luis Gagne and Chase Johnson, who both birdied the final hole to force a playoff.

Johnson was eliminated in the first extra hole, and in the second hole, van Wyk made a birdie to seal the victory. The College of Charleston senior became the first amateur golfer to claim an APGA event since the Tour began in 2010.

Speaking at the post-round interview, van Wyk said he was proud of himself and the way he played.

"I played well yesterday, and I just struggled a little bit mentally on the greens," he said as per the PGA Tour. "I knew I had the game to compete and win out here coming off a good season I had last semester. Yeah, I'm proud of myself. Only good things can come from this."

Since Kieron van Wyk is an amateur, he didn't receive any payout, while Gagne and Johnson received $22,500 each from the $100,000 purse.

The 23-year-old South African qualified for the APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational as the leading player in the 2024-25 Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking. He also received an exemption into the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open following his win at the White Sands Bahamas Men’s NCAA Golf Invitational last year.

Last year, van Wyk was named to the First Team All-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) for the third straight season.

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The leaderboard for the Farmers Insurance Invitational explored

Here's the leaderboard for the Farmers Insurance Invitational 2025:

• T1. Kieron Vanwyk (a): +2 ($0.00)
• T2. Luis Gagne: +2 ($23,500.00)
• T2. Chase Johnson: +2 ($23,500.00)
• 4. Aaron Grimes: +3 ($10,000.00)
• T5. Aaron Beverly: +4 ($7,500.00)
• T5. Wyatt Worthington II: +4 ($7,500.00)
• 7. Jaime Lopez Rivarola: +5 ($5,000.00)
• 8. Gregory Odom Jr.: +6 ($4,000.00)
• 9. Michael Bradham: +8 ($3,500.00)
• T10. Jarred Garcia: +9 ($2,666.67)
• T10. John-Baptiste Hakizimana: +9 ($2,666.67)
• T10. Cole Stevens: +9 ($2,666.67)
• T13. Kevin Hall: +10 ($1,750.00)
• T13. Troy Taylor II: +10 ($1,750.00)
• T15. Roman Solomon (a): +11 ($0.00)
• T15. Brian Ohr: +11 ($1,500.00)
• 17. Donald Kay: +12 ($1,500.00)
• 18. Andrew Walker: +13 ($1,000.00)