SA Long Drive champion is heading to Las Vegas
Van Zyl feels his support system is the reason he has made it this far.
Thorne Juan van Zyl, a Brentwood Park resident, recently claimed his second SA Long Drive title and also won the Order of Merit title for the fourth year running.
Gridpro SA has joined the World Long Drive Competition, which means the winner of the SA finals, van Zyl, will be going to the World Championship in September in Las Vegas, USA, to represent South Africa.
“I feel honoured to be going to America again,” said van Zyl.
“Hopefully, there will be no issues this year with Covid-19 as there was last year.
ALSO READ:
“I couldn’t do any of this without my support system and sponsors.
“I’m looking forward to competing against the world’s best and most certainly spending more time with the friends I’ve made these past years in long drive.”
Van Zyl began long driving in August 2017 when he was 20 years old and has loved it ever since.
“Myself and my father went to a proshop to buy a new set of golf clubs and while I was hitting some irons in the hitting bay, a gentleman approached me and asked if I have ever tried long drive because he can see that I have some distance and speed in my swing,” explained van Zyl.
“After a bit of talking he told me to enter a tournament that was in a week’s time in Centurion at Ernie Els Copperleaf Golf Club, which led me to winning my first event, and obviously that started the addiction to the sport.”
With these massive achievements under his belt, one would think this all started back in school, but van Zyl mainly played soccer and cricket during his schooling years, with some golf added to the roster.
“During my school years I played a lot of golf for Eastern Gauteng from u-12 to u-16,” he explained.
“With long driving, I started in my 20s and started gaining many wins and taking home the trophies.”
There are a few wins that stick out the most for van Zyl.
“My first international win in Spain, going to World Long Drive in Oklahoma, competing with the world’s best and also winning SA Champs two years in a row, it all just meant the most to me,” he said.
“I enjoy every day that I compete in long drive and I try to make memories everywhere I go.
“I’ve had many incredible moments.”
ALSO READ:
Grid pro finals done and dusted
Van Zyl feels his support system is the reason he has made it this far, mentioning his father and mother, as they are his biggest support system.
“My dad is the one who sits with me at the range and records every single swing I take. We sit there trying different techniques and strategies,” he explained.
“My mom is my dietitian. She feeds me all the right food and always keeps my mind focused for game day.”
Many of van Zyl’s friends make it to his competitions and cheer him on from the sidelines.
“I have many friends who come out and watch me play; their support means the world to me,” he said.
“Their support helps me focus on winning. Without their words of encouragement I don’t think I would’ve won half of the battles I have.”
Van Zyl hopes to one day move to America and work, while still competing in long drive competitions on a bigger stage with tougher competition.
“I would like to thank my dad and mom (Stephen and Catherine van Zyl), my friends, Mel, Devon and Brendon, for always supporting me and also to my sponsors, KRANK Golf, SwitchGrips International, Paderson Shafts, Volvik Afrika and Alert Group,” he concluded.
