The Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational, which teed off on January 25, has crowned its sixth champion. And the winner is none other than South African sensation Kieron van Wyk, a senior at the College of Charleston, who made history by outplaying seasoned golfers at Torrey Pines.
In the second and final round, Wyk shocked everyone as he shot one-under-par 71 in that cold, breezy condition. Back in the 18th hole, Van Wyk and Gagne birdied together, eliminating Johnson after his shot landed in the water. On the second playoff hole, Van Wyk drove over 350 yards and hit a precise 7-iron approach from 187 yards, setting up a winning birdie. But even after winning, the amateur will not take home the $30,000 winner’s check out of the $100,000 purse because of his age. What does this mean for other players?
How much did each player earn at the 6th APGA Farmers Insurance?
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Due to being an amateur, the total purse of $100,000 was not only missed by the South African champion Kieron van Wyk but also Roman Soloman who finished at T15 carding a total of 11 over par. Whereas, $23,500 was shared between Luis Gange and Chase Johnson, finishing at 2 over par. Similarly, the T5 paycheck too was shared between 2 players. Check out the full prize money breakdown of the event below.
Pos. Player Purse T1 Kieron Vanwyk $0.00 T1 Luis Gagne $23,500.00 T1 Chase Johnson $23,500.00 4 Aaron Grimes $10,000.00 T5 Aaron Beverly $7,500.00 T5 Wyatt Worthington II $7,500.00 7 Jaime Lopez Rivarola $5,000.00 8 Gregory Odom Jr. $4,000.00 9 Michael Bradham $3,500.00 T10 Jarred Garcia $2,666.67 T10 John-Baptiste Hakizimana $2,666.67 T10 Cole Stevens $2,666.67 T13 Kevin Hall $1,750.00 T13 Troy Taylor II $1,750.00 T15 Roman Solomon (a) $0.00 T15 Brian Ohr $1,500.00 17 Donald Kay $1,500.00 18 Andrew Walker $1,000.00
What Wyk had to say after his first amateur win?
Despite being unfamiliar with the course, van Wyk impressed with a 3-over-par 75 on the North Course on Saturday, followed by a 1-under-par 71 on the challenging South Course on Sunday.
“I think the APGA is doing really good stuff,” he said in a post-win interview. “As a young professional or soon-to-be professional, you need as many opportunities as you can. It’s tough out here to play as a pro. You need those opportunities to get yourself going and familiarize yourself with the environments and everything that it has to offer,” he continued. The South African star ended by saying, “I’m truly grateful for all that they do and the opportunity that they’ve given me this week.”
Interestingly, the senior golfers who were defeated by Wyk were equally impressed. Gagne 27-year-old Costa Rica native who carded a total of 146 said, “He seems very mature for his age.” He continued praising, “He’s got a lot of (club) speed. He’s very calm, cool and composed. I think he’ll do great things if he keeps progressing. Kids, now they can hit it so far. Playing on No. 18, definitely I felt like it was a disadvantage because I really have to hit a good drive off the tee to get there in two, and he’s hitting an iron in, which is pretty nuts. He’s very talented. I’m happy that he won. He played great.”
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We couldn’t agree more! Although the 23-year-old van Wyk wasn’t eligible to take home the prize money, his impressive win signals a promising year ahead. The golfing world is eagerly anticipating his next move. What do you think about this young talent? Let us know below!
2025 APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational: Prize Money Breakdown & Winner’s Payout
