Jamie Van Wyk: From Taster Session to Welsh Open Champion at Conwy
English golfer Jamie Van Wyk enjoyed the biggest win of his career at the Welsh Men’s Open Strokeplay Championship, at Conwy Golf Club, where he visited for a golf taster session as a kid.
It meant the 24-year-old Royal Lytham and St Annes player had good memories of the North Wales links course; two rounds of 68 helping him to a two-shot victory over Formby’s Christian Johnson.
The Welsh challenge was spearheaded by Oswestry’s Tom Matthews, one shot further back in third place, with St Pierre’s Piers Murphy and Cilgwyn’s Dion Regan also earning top ten places.
Van Wyk had just come back from competing in Australia and was able to turn a number of recent top ten finishes there and around England into a first national Open title.
“This is the biggest win of my golfing career so far, it is massive to win a national championship so I am buzzing,” he said.
“It gives me a lot of confidence going into the Lytham Trophy on my home course next week. I led going into the final round there last year, and could have won.”
Fond Memories and Future Ambitions
“Conwy is a great course. I came here on a junior trip when I first started playing golf at Lytham Green Drive Golf Club at the age of 15 or so, so I have fond memories of coming here as well,” Van Wyk shared.
“The weather was good, and it was great to be in the position of going into the final round with a lead. However the finish at Conwy is pretty tight so it was only after I found the fairway at 18 that I was able to relax.
“I have been there or thereabouts a few times without crossing the line for a win, but I felt confident out there today.”
After graduating with a first-class degree in golf management from the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, Van Wyk is working three jobs to fund what he hopes will be a final year as an amateur golfer before turning pro.
“I have three part-time jobs to fund my golf, in the golf club, working in a warehouse, and also getting my licence as a taxi driver,” he explained.
“It means a lot of late nights with all that, but results such as this make it worthwhile. I am hoping to go to Tour Qualifying School at the end of this year, turn pro and do as well as I can to play Challenge Tour or DP World Tour next year.”
Strong Performance Praised
Van Wyk came through a strong field in Conwy. “Congratulations to Jamie on a strong performance, four rounds under par taking him to an impressive 10 under,” said Wales Golf Competitions Manager Dan Fullager.
“The Conwy course was a fantastic challenge in good conditions for many of the best amateur golfers in the UK, while the staff and volunteers played a massive part in the smooth running of the event. It was good to see a strong Welsh challenge with Tom Matthews leading the way, and with seven Welsh golfers in the top 25.”
