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Arab News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
25 years after Tiger's romp, a huge fan, Chase Johnson, is US Open's only player of Black heritage
OAKMONT, Pennsylvania: One of the first memories for the last man to make the field at this year's US Open was watching Tiger Woods. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport In that respect, Chase Johnson has plenty of company. In another, he has none. On the 25-year anniversary of Woods' historic dismantling of Pebble Beach in the US Open — a milestone win that some thought might puncture golf's stereotype as a sport for rich, white men — Johnson is the only player of Black heritage in the 156-man field at Oakmont. That's hardly the only valid storyline for the 29-year-old former standout at Kent State who: • Adopted a cross-hand chipping style to avoid the shanks. • Beat players like Max Homa and Rickie Fowler in qualifying to earn an alternate's spot that eventually got him in the field. • Made a whirlwind trip from qualifying in Ohio to the US Open in Pennsylvania with detours to Arizona for a tournament, then to Michigan to celebrate his fiancee's birthday. But neither does Johnson shirk from his position at the national championship this week. He is the 2025 season points leader on the Advocates Professional Golf Association, a nonprofit tour that promotes diversity in golf. He landed there after short stints on the Korn Ferry Tour. He also plays on the developmental PGA Tour Americas circuit. A quarter-century after Woods made history, Johnson is not trying to be the next Tiger, only trying to show what can happen for a young player with a good work ethic and a love of the game. 'We're going to keep on working on it, but hopefully I can continue to build my platform and build that platform for other players to just continue to grow the game,' Johnson said. Diversity has been a work in progress for golf for ages — one that took on new meaning when Woods burst on the scene with his Masters win in 1997, then backed it up in 1999-2000 with four straight major victories, including the 12-shot win at Pebble Beach. Two years ago, when not a single Black player qualified for the US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club, USGA president Fred Perpall, who is Black, said it was a disappointment and he found it hard not to wish 'we could just press the magic wand' to make those numbers look better. On the eve of the first round at Oakmont, with Perpall's term coming to an end, he and CEO Mike Whan touted some encouraging signs: Of the 24 million Americans who said in a recent survey that they're 'extremely interested' in playing golf, 24 percent are Black and Hispanic. Perpall said the USGA's 2-year-old US National Development Program will be the pathway for America's elite for the next 100 years. 'It's not going to be a fast road,' Perpall said of the effort to make golf more diverse. 'I mean, we didn't get here overnight. We will not get out of here overnight. But if you get down to the junior level and you get down to the elite junior level, I think you're going to see a lot more diverse game than you see out there' at country clubs and at Oakmont this week. Johnson's path was literally inspired by Woods. He recalls watching the 15-time major champion not as one of his first golf memories, but one of his first memories of anything. In the Woods video game Johnson played as a kid, the game gave 'trophy balls' as prizes. Johnson's father, Mel, gave out 'Daddy Trophy Balls' as rewards to motivate his kid. Like Woods, Johnson is mixed race. His father his Black and his mother, Cheryl, is white. The entire family, along with fiancee, Katie Howarth, will be on hand for either two or four rounds this week. 'I was a little shocked with my dad's response' upon finding out he had qualified, Johnson said. 'He was like: 'This is amazing. It's Father's Day weekend. I couldn't ask for anything more.' I was like, 'I think we could think of one thing by Sunday that we could get for you.'' Nothing wrong with dreaming big. But in the game he's playing, a victory might also look like a couple of young kids seeing someone who looks like them playing at the US Open — then picking up a club themselves. 'I want to see what he does with this platform,' Johnson's coach, Kyle VanHise, said in a 2023 profile in Golf Digest. 'The amount of people he's going to help and influence will be incredible. Who is the one kid that, because he met you, his life was changed forever?'
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Chase Johnson, only black player in US Open field, looks to grow game with APGA Tour
OAKMONT, Pa. — If you're looking for a lesser-known player for whom to root at this week's U.S. Open, Chase Johnson isn't a bad option. Johnson, who competes on the Advocates Professional Golf Association, a circuit that provides opportunities for minority players, got into the field as the last of the 156 in it. Advertisement He was involved in a five-for-one playoff for the last spot at the Columbus, Ohio, final qualifier, but ended up as the first alternate — ahead of PGA Tour winners Eric Cole, Max Homa and Rickie Fowler. He got into the field when Bud Cauley became fully exempt via the Top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of June 9. Cauley was one of the six qualifiers in Columbus. Advertisement With Tiger Woods his idol growing up, it's not lost on Johnson that he's the only black player in the field this week. 'That's one of the missions of the APGA Tour, which is great,'' Johnson said. 'I was able to kind of rebuild my platform a little bit out there on that tour starting in 2023, after I lost my Korn Ferry Tour card. Guys are getting great out there, and Willie Mack [another APGA player] played in the Open last year and qualified. 'It's just a matter of time. Like all these Pathway guys, like their version of PGA TOUR U, is developing some really strong players. We're going to keep on working on it, but hopefully I can continue to build my platform and build that platform for other players to just continue to grow the game.'' Chase Johnson, who qualified for the U.S. Open, hits a shot on the 13th tee during his June 11, 2025 practice round. Getty Images Advertisement Johnson wasn't daunted at playing against established PGA Tour players in the qualifier because he's played against these players since he was a youth. 'I definitely was the underdog in the playoff, but I didn't feel it like that way at all,'' he said. 'We all played together on Korn Ferry for two years. Then being on the Cobra Puma team, I've gotten to know Rickie to a certain extent over the last couple years, and then did an event for Tiger's Jr. Invitational last fall with Max. So. there was some familiarity with all the players.' Johnson noted he's even competed against world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Chase Johnson Johnson competes on the Advocates Professional Golf Association, a circuit that provides opportunities for minority players. Getty Images Advertisement 'Scottie and I are the same age, and I've been playing against him since we were juniors,'' he said. 'Obviously, he's figured something out a lot quicker than I did. But eventually I'll get to the point that I want to be at.''
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
This college golfer became the first amateur to win on the APGA Tour
This college golfer became the first amateur to win on the APGA Tour Show Caption Hide Caption Most Exciting Things I Saw at the 2025 PGA Show While there were tons of amazing products at the PGA Show, Averee Dovsek shares her favorite apparel and products. Kieron van Wyk made history Sunday. The senior at College of Charleston became the first amateur to ever win on the Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour, capturing the title at the APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational at Torrey Pines. The South African native made par on the closing par-5 18th to get into a playoff, then he birdied the same hole twice in a three-man, sudden-death playoff that went two holes. 'I'm proud of myself and how I did,' van Wyk said. 'I played well yesterday, and I just struggled a little bit mentally on the greens. I knew I had the game to compete and win out here coming off a good season I had last semester. Yeah, I'm proud of myself. Only good things can come from this.' Van Wyk made the most of his first visit to Torrey Pines, signing for 3-over 75 on the North Course during Saturday's first round before shooting 1-under 71 Sunday on the South Course. He bogeyed the 17th hole but rebounded with the par on 18 to get into the playoff, and then he topped Luis Gagne and Chase Johnson to make history. No amateur has won on the APGA Tour since it began in 2010. Now, van Wyk has that honor all to himself. Van Wyk earned his spot in the APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational as the top player in the 2024-2025 Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking as of Oct. 30, 2024. By virtue of winning the White Sands Bahamas Men's NCAA Golf Invitational last fall, he secured an exemption into the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open this March. He's ranked fifth in the NCAA Golf Rankings heading into the spring season. "The APGA is doing really good stuff," van Wyk said. "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. I'm truly grateful for all that they do and the opportunity that they've given me this week." According to the tour's website: The mission of the APGA Tour is to bring greater diversity to the game of golf by developing African Americans and other minorities for careers in golf.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kieron van Wyk, 23, first amateur to win APGA Tour event at Farmers Invitational
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A 23-year-old South African has made history as the first amateur to win an Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour event at the season-opening Farmers Insurance Invitational in San Diego. In his first tournament on the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour, 23-year-old Kieron van Wyk — a College of Charleston senior and native of South Africa — became the first amateur golfer to win an APGA event since the tour started in 2010. Harris English holds off Sam Stevens by a shot in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Van Wyk made par on the 18th hole in regulation, then birded the same hole twice in a three-man, sudden-death playoff that went two holes, at APGA Tour's season opening Farmers Insurance Invitational on Sunday at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla. The Farmer's Insurance Invitational, presented by the APGA Tour, showcases the next generation of professional golfers, with a focus on supporting minority players who dream of joining the PGA Tour. 25-year-old San Diego native pursuing pro golf dreams at Farmers Invitational 'I'm proud of myself and how I did,' van Wyk said. 'I played well yesterday, and I just struggled a little bit mentally on the greens. I knew I had the game to compete and win out here coming off a good season I had last semester. Yeah, I'm proud of myself. Only good things can come from this.' APGA says van Wyk shot 3-over-par 75 Saturday on the North Course and then carded a 1-under-par 71 Sunday on the more difficult South Course during his first visit to the West Coast. Despite a bogey on the 17th after he pulled his driver off the tee, he rebounded with a par on the 18th, according to APGA, and then watched as Luis Gagne and Chase Johnson both birdied the 18th to enter into the playoff. Mahomes and the Chiefs will face Hurts, Barkley and the Eagles as they seek a Super Bowl three-peat Johnson was eliminated after the first playoff hole. Van Wyk flushed his driver down the middle on the second playoff hole, then went straight at the flag with a 7-iron from 187 yards, and chipped from the fringe off the back of the green to within two feet for a tap-in birdie that sealed his victory. However, APGA says van Wyk will not take home the $30,000 winner's check from the Farmers Insurance Invitational's $100,000 purse because he is an amateur player. Gagne and Johnson will split the first and second place payouts, each earning $22,500. Australian Open: Keys upsets 2-time champion Sabalenka in women's final for 1st Grand Slam title 'He seems very mature for his age,' said Gagne, a 27-year-old Costa Rica native who played collegiately at LSU and played in the 2018, 2019 and 2021 U.S. Opens, the latter which took place at Torrey Pines' South Course. '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.' Van Wyk earned his spot in the APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational as the top player in the 2024-2025 Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking as of October 30, 2024, and secured an exemption into the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open this March after winning the White Sands Bahamas Men's NCAA Golf Invitational last fall. L.A.'s Genesis Invitational will be held at Torrey Pines due to fires Last season was the third consecutive year that van Wyk was named First Team All-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). He was the individual conference champion in 2022, making him the first Black golfer in CAA history to win medalist honors at the league tournament. 'I think the APGA is doing really good stuff,' van Wyk said. 'I think 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. I'm truly grateful for all that they do and the opportunity that they've given me this week.' The Farmers Insurance Invitational takes place in conjunction with the PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course. For the past several years, Farmers has also provided an APGA Tour player with an exemption into the Farmers Insurance Open, with Willie Mack III receiving a spot in the 2025 field. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
