In remarkable storyline, an amateur playing in his first PGA Tour event has strong shot to win in Puerto Rico

In late January at Torrey Pines in San Diego, PGA Tour veteran Joseph Bramlett appeared from the tunnel under the grandstands on the South Course and warmly greeted Ken Bentley, the co-founder and CEO of the APGA Tour. Bramlett, who has 160 starts in golf’s big leagues, played three times on the minority pro tour early in his career, and, despite missing the cut in that week’s Farmers Insurance Open, he took the time to thank Bentley for the opportunities he was given. A classy gesture.

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The occasion that Sunday afternoon was the final round of the APGA’s Farmers Invitational, and in a history-making win, College of Charleston golfer Kieron van Wyk, of South Africa, became the first amateur to lift a trophy on the 15-year-old circuit.

That scene has become more intriguing because of what’s happening this week in the Puerto Rico Open, the alternate-field event running concurrently with the signature Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando. Heading into Sunday’s final round, Bramlett and van Wyk trail leader Karl Vilips (18 under) by one shot, and the three will play together.

The stakes, beyond the $720,000 first prize and 300 FedEx Cup points, are enormous for the trio. Take a moment to absorb this about Van Wyk, who shot 65 on Saturday: He is making his debut in any PGA Tour-sanctioned event while playing on a sponsor’s exemption, and he could 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.

Van Wyk, 22, currently is playing his senior season at Charleston and would immediately earn a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour with a victory. He’d be the first golfer to win on the APGA and PGA Tour and would join Cameron Champ (who has three wins) as the only Black players other than Tiger Woods to win since the last victory in 1986 for 14-time champion Calvin Peete.

Bramlett, 36, a Northern California native who in 2011 became the first Black player to earn his PGA Tour card since Woods, is still seeking his first win, and he charged toward that opportunity with a 64 in the third round. He was a notable junior golf and college player at Stanford, but Bramlett has only five top-10 finishes in his career.

Vilips, 23, an Indonesia native who plays under the Australian flag, also is a Stanford product, and he earned his PGA Tour card in only 10 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2024—buoyed by four straight top-15 finishes, including a win in Utah.

A win by van Wyk would be extraordinary, considering his background. He grew up in the suburbs of Johannesburg as an elite-level soccer player before being introduced to the game by his dad. Van Wyk made a long-distance commitment to College of Charleston head golf coach Mitch Krywulycz without any trip to the campus during COVID-19. Among his achievements with the Cougars is becoming the first Black golfer to win the Colonial Athletic Association individual title in 2022.

On Saturday in Puerto Rico, van Wyk made an eagle and five birdies to shoot seven under after opening 66-68 at the Tom Kite-designed Grand Reserve Golf Club.

“Definitely soaking in every moment, and the crowds and having the people cheer me on, we don't get that every week playing in college,” van Wyk said. “As far as golf goes, I think it's just like every other tournament I play, just take it as it is and hit the golf ball.”

Of course, under the circumstances, van Wyke is predictably battling some nerves, but he’s been helped in that regard by his caddie, Charleston assistant coach and fellow South African JP van der Walt. “I think my caddie just does a good job of that with me, keeping me present and in the moment out there. Energy's one thing when it gets so hard to stay focused. I've really been trying to just maintain my energy levels and making sure that I'm eating enough out there just so I don't lose focus.”