Before they turned pro: Aldrich Potgieter
2/23/2025 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
The 2022 British Amateur champion and PGA Tour rookie finished in solo second place at the Mexico Open after losing in a playoff
After becoming the youngest winner ever on the Korn Ferry Tour, Aldrich Potgieter is already making waves on the PGA Tour at just 20 years old.
After holding the 36 and 54-hole lead, Potgieter lost to Brian Campbell in a playoff to finish in solo second place at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld. Campbell had luck on his side after his tee shot on the second playoff hole, the par-5 No. 18, hit a tree out of bounds and bounced back into play.
Campbell went onto birdie the hole while Potgieter made a par.
"Pressure is a big thing," Potgieter told the PGA Tour after the playoff. "You can't really beat it. You just have to learn and adjust the next time you are in that position again."
Potgieter added, "It's alright. Hopefully, my time will come soon."
After a 10-under 61 second round and 4-under 67 third round, Potgieter led by one shot heading into the final round. He is 20-under overall. He carded ten birdies and no bogeys in the impressive second round.
A course record-tying 61 from the 20-year-old rookie 👏
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 21, 2025
Aldrich Potgieter leads @MexicoOpenGolf. pic.twitter.com/W3hJ6kxkU8
Last month, Potgieter entered the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open only one shot behind the leaders Harris English and Andrew Novak, but a final round 6-over 78 saw him fall to 1-under and T14.
"It's just a gift from God. I've definitely been given a talent," Potgieter told the PGA Tour on Friday about his golfing prowess.
Potgieter made history at the 2024 Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club, finishing 10-under for a two-shot victory over Quade Cummins and Kyle Westmoreland.
According to the PGA Tour, Potgieter (19 years, 4 months, 11 days) surpassed Jason Day for the record as the Korn Ferry Tour's youngest winner. Potgieter also becomes the youngest winner on either the PGA TOUR or Korn Ferry Tour since Ralph Guldahl at the 1931 Santa Monica Open (19 years, 2 months, 3 days).
He won the 2022 Amateur Championship roughly three months before his 18th birthday, making him the second-youngest winner in the event's history.
Potgieter's other notable amateur victories included the 2021 Western Australia Amateur, 2022 South African Boys U19 Championship, 2023 African Amateur Championship, and 2023 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley.
Amateur wins
2020 South Australian Junior Masters2021 Western Australian Amateur
2022 Nomads South African Juniors International, Nomads SA Boys U19 Championship, Western Province Amateur, The Amateur Championship
2023 African Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, Georgia Cup (match between the reigning U.S. Amateur champion and British Amateur champion)
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