Rio Grande of Puerto Rico – South African amateur Kieron van Wyk shot seven shots on Saturday with 65, leading leader Karl Vilips having a stroke with one round left in the Puerto Rico Open.
Van Wyk, a 23-year-old senior at Charleston College, started his first PGA Tour. He ranked first in the APGA college rankings and won the 2024 White Sands Men’s NCAA Golf Invitational this week, with a waiver.
“It’s certainly going to be soaked in every moment, the crowds, and let people cheer me on. We don’t play football in college every week,” Van Wyk said. “As far as golf goes, I think it’s like all the other games I’ve played, just hit the golf ball as it is.”
He scored five-5-14 in a bogey-free match on Saturday for the big reserves, a campaign that was against Bay Hill’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Van Wyk attempted to be the second-place amateur champion in two years on the PGA Tour. Last year, Nick Dunlap won at La Quinta, becoming the first amateur champion since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
“Just keep doing what I’ve been doing for the past three days, and hope it will pay off when tomorrow ends,” Van Wyk said.
Vilips has a ranking of 66 and a maximum of 198. The Australian won the PGA Tour last season on the Korn Ferry Tour. He is fighting stomach problems.
“My position feels good,” Wilips said. “I wish my stomach felt a little better, but that’s it. You have a day left, just in the fight.”
After the age of 64, American Joseph Bramlett tied for second place with Van Wyk.
Austin Cook is under 69. Chad Ramey (65), Steven Fisk (67), Norman Xiong (68) and William Mouw (69) under 15 years old.
Denmark’s second-round leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen entered the ninth place with a 14-year-old lead in his PGA Tour. He received an event exempted by a specialist from international players.
