Juan Angel brings his game from Colombia to U.S. senior circuit for Golfweek PNW Senior

USA Today

29-06-2025

Even though Juan Angel has been playing golf since he was 9 years old, it's the little things that have come together recently. And those make all the difference.
Angel, at 55 years old, is ranked No. 232 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and is the No. 2 player age 55 and over. He will compete this week in the Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Amateur, to be played July 1-3 at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington. As the summer plays out, expect to see a lot more of the talented Colombian. In other words, get to know the name – and what's behind this recent rise in his game.
When he became eligible for the senior circuit in December, a whole new world opened to Angel, and he's taking advantage of it. He notes as he has become more disciplined in his practice, added some exercise and yoga and has begun eating better, sleeping better and prioritizing self-care, he's performing better on the golf course, too.
Dating to 2023, Angel has won six national senior tour events in Colombia as well as the 2024 Senior National Championship there. All are WAGR-ranked events. In August, Angel will compete in the U.S. Senior Amateur for the first time.
'Without a doubt, it will be one of the most important moments in my golfing career,' he wrote in a message to Golfweek.
When Angel competes, he tries to take in everything that's happening around him. That's especially important in a mixed field – whether that be mixed by age or experience level. Before crossing the country to Walla Walla, Angel competed in U.S. Senior Open final qualifying in South Florida. It was an eyes-wide-open experience as he joined a field of former PGA Tour players as well as amateurs from both the U.S. and Latin America. Angel still plays primarily in his native Colombia, where the father of three works in real estate and agriculture – and has no plans to retire.
'I enjoy working, but I have made an effort to free up a good amount of time to practice and to play some tournaments, especially in Colombia and the region,' Angel wrote to Golfweek. 'I now have a big dream and goal: to play, now that I am a Senior — I turned 55 last December — in some important tournaments in the United States, in Canada, in England, and I would also love to compete in South Africa, Australia, and Europe. Let's see how far we can go with this opportunity that life has given us to play senior golf at a high level.
Angel doesn't take many lessons, but does, he said, occasionally work with instructors at his home course, Club Campestre Pereira. Competitive reps certainly build skill, and this is where Angel is careful to savor an experience. For the past three years, Angel has competed in the Latin America Amateur Championship, a joint initiative founded by the Masters Tournament, USGA and R&A that features the best golf talent from the region. The prestigious event has taken him from Puerto Rico to Panama to Argentina.
'For me and other Mid-Am and Senior players in the region, it has been a wonderful experience — one where I've learned a lot and been able to share the course with high-level players, generally much younger than us,' Angel wrote, 'It's been very interesting, and definitely very well-organized tournaments.'
In the opening round of the Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior, Angel will play beside Trent Gregory, winner of the 2024 Golfweek Senior National and recent repeat winner of the Estero Senior, and Stan Humphries, a former NFL quarterback who won the 2024 North & South Senior.
The Senior division also includes Golfweek's No. 2-ranked senior, Kevin VandenBerg. The Super Senior division is highlighted by Wine Valley owner Jim Pliska as well as Pat O'Donnell, a Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Famer.
The tournament includes a Legends and Super Legends division as well. The 54-hole event begins Tuesday.