Amateur Kieron van Wyk fell short of winning not only as an amateur but also in his first PGA Tour appearance when he carded a closing 70 on Sunday in the final round of the Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
The South African College of Charleston senior was within one stroke after 36 holes, and was bogey-free on Sunday until the 16th hole. Nonetheless, a final-round 70 earned him a tie with Steve Fisk for fourth.
At 19-under-par for the week after rounds of 66-68-65-70, Van Wyk ended up seven strokes behind the winner, Karl Vilips of the United States. Vilips won his maiden PGA Tour title with a closing eight-under 64 taking him to 26-under. That was three clear of runner-up Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark, whose nine-under 63 was a chase in vain.
Van Wyk was making his debut in any PGA Tour-sanctioned event while playing on a sponsor’s exemption, and he could have become the second amateur in just more than a year to grab a PGA Tour win, following Nick Dunlap’s victory in the 2024 American Express. Before Dunlap, the last amateur with a tour win was Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Behind Van Wyk, Garrick Higgo also closed with a two-under 70 to reach 16-under for the tournament and a share of 12th place. Thirston Lawrence carded a closing one-over 73 and was on 10-under in a share of 54th.
