Barend Botha wins BioSteel Championship for back-to-back victories on PGA TOUR Americas

WINDSOR, Ontario – Barend Botha claimed his second professional victory in back-to-back weeks at the BioSteel Championship after carding a final round 7-under 63. Botha moves up to No. 4 in the Fortinet Cup points list after the victory, after sitting at T219 prior to the Commissionaires Ottawa Open.

After an eagle on No. 15, Botha took a share of the lead at 25-under heading into his final three holes. Botha made birdie on No. 18 to claim his second consecutive victory, after hitting his approach on No. 18 to a foot. As we walked up to read his putt, Botha knew he had a chance to secure the win.

“Speechless,” Botha said. “I came up 18, looked at the scoreboard, I was like 'tap in, OK'… I was like ‘it's not done yet,’ but the heart was pumping.”

Botha credited his caddie, Max Hansen, for keeping him grounded during his round. Botha and Hansen grew up in George, South Africa, and have been working together since Botha made his debut at the Bromont Open presented by Desjardins.

“He was keeping me very like, in the moment,” Botha said. “There was a couple of times where I told him… I was thinking ahead, and he was like 'stop that, focus on this now, focus on this shot…’ I mean, club selection, he helps me a lot. He probably knows my game better than I do. Most of the par 3s we get up there and he's already got the club out… Then he's like ‘just trust it, that's the right club, and it's always been the right club.’”

Botha secured exempt status for the North America Swing after earning medalist honors at PGA TOUR Americas Q-School at Soboba Spring Golf Course in San Jacinto, California. Botha earned status after finishing his senior year at the University of Toledo, where he was named the Mid-America Conference (MAC) Golfer of the Year for the second consecutive year.

It didn’t take long for the South African to start racking up accolades once he started his collegiate career. Botha was named the 2020-21 MAC Freshman of the Year after leading the Rockets in stroke average (73.5) and rounds at par or better (7). Botha was named to the All-MAC First-Team four consecutive times, and led Toledo in scoring average each year, setting the program record for best stroke average in 2022-23 (70.5).

Botha is expected to be in the field at the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open presented by Lake Country Co-Op, where he will make his fourth start as a professional.

About Barend Botha (first/26 under)

 

Age: 22
Birthplace: George, South Africa
Residence: Toledo, Ohio
College: University of Toledo
Fortinet Cup: fourth

• Earned his first win at the 2024 Commissionaires Ottawa Open; joins Frederik Kjettrup as the second player to win back-to-back tournaments this season.
• Earned medalist honors at the PGA TOUR Americas Q-School in San Jacinto, California to earn membership for the North America Swing.
• Earned First-Team All-MAC selection for four consecutive years.
• Won MAC Golfer of the Year in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
• Set the Toledo single season stroke average record (70.5) in 2022-23.
• Won MAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2020-21 after posting a team-low scoring average.
• Claimed the individual MAC Championship in back-to-back years (2022-23, 2023-24).
• Became the second player in Toledo program history to compete as an individual at NCAA Regionals multiple times.

Competition Notes

 

Course Setup: Par 70 at 7,033 yards; Final round scoring average: 67.04

Weather: Sunny with a high of 88. Wind from the southwest at 1-8 mph with gusts up to 14 mph.

• Three countries are represented in the top five and ties: the United States (3), Canada (2) and South Africa (1).
• Botha joins Frederik Kjettrup as the second player to win back-to-back events this season (Commissionaires Ottawa Open, BioSteel Championship).
• With a third win this season, Botha would earn a three-win promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour, where he would have exempt status through the 2025 season.
• Matthew Anderson finished as the low Canadian of the 2024 BioSteel Championship (T2/25 under).
• Mexico’s Luis Gerardo Garza (T11/19 under) and Argentina’s Andres Gallegos (T11/-19) finished as the low Latin’s at the 2024 BioSteel Championship.
• Johnny Keefer finished in the top 10 for the fifth time in six starts and moved to No. 2 in the Fortinet Cup points list; Keefer has finished as the runner-up three times this season and has not finished worse than T19.
• Joey Savoie did not record a bogey during the BioSteel Championship; Savoie’s last bogey came on hole No. 13 at Eagle Creek Golf Club in the third round of the Commissionaires Ottawa Open.
• Anderson led the field in birdies made with 33 over the course of four rounds, including 11 in the final round.
• Hole No. 16 – the 242-yard par 3 – was the most challenging hole at Ambassador Golf Club on Sunday; averaging a +.300.