Arkansas MGolf Inks Vesga and Strydom

FAYETTEVILLE– Juan Camilo Vesga (Bucaramanga, Colombia) and Damin Strydom (Kingwood, Texas) have signed a National Letter of Intent, Arkansas head men’s golf coach Brad McMakin announced.

“I am very excited about both Juan and Damin,” McMakin said. “They both have a ton of experience on the highest levels. Juan has played and won all over the world in junior and amateur events. Damin qualified for the 2020 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship and has the ability to compete at a very high level. I look forward to both of them having a great future during their years as Razorbacks.”

Juan Camilo Vesga
Colegio San Pedro Claver HS
Bucaramanga, Colombia

• Has been a member of the Colombian Junior National team since 2014.
• In his junior career:
  ^ won 10 Colombian Junior National events (over various age divisions) and was a three-time runner up.
  ^ won two South American Junior events and is a three-time runner up (over various age divisions).
  ^ was the 2010 US KIDS World Golf Champion and was a runner up twice.
• Won the 2019 Colombian National Junior Match Play Championship and placed fifth in 2018.
• Won the 2019 Campeonato Sudamericano Juvenil.
• Won the 2017 Copa Camilo Villegas and was runner up in 2018 and 2019.
• Has two top 25 finishes at the Toyota Junior World Cup, including a 23rd-place showing in 2019 and 21st finish in 2018.
• Has four top-30 finishes in professional events including 22nd at the 2018 Abierto Los Lagartos, fifth at the 2018 Abierto de CC Medellin, 14th at the 2018 Abierto de Golf Pueblo Viejo and 27th at the 2018 Campeonato Nacional de Profesionales.
• Placed fourth at the 2017 IMG Academy Junior World Championship (Boys 13-14) with rounds of 68-74-69.
• Has twice earned Sportsman of the Year Awards, including 2010 as a junior and 2017 as an amateur.

Damin Strydom
Kingwood HS
Kingwood, Texas

• Shot 63 (with teammate) to qualify for the 2020 USGA U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship (May 22-27).
• On the AJGA Tour, two top 10 finishes, four top 15 finishes and five top 20 finishes:
  ^ 12th at the 2018 AJGA Sergio/Angela Garcia Foundation
  ^ 8th at the 2017 AJGA Junior All-Star @ Lost Springs
  ^ 9th at the 2017 AJGA Under Armour/Hunter Mahan
  ^ 13th at the 2017 AJGA Junior at Gray Plantation
  ^ 19th at the 2017 AJGA Insperity Invitational/Patrick Reed
• Placed second at the 2019 LJT – Spring Preview and fourth at the 2019 LJT – Bluebonnet Championship
• 2017 VYPE Player of the Year
• Three-time, 1st Team All-District
• Two-time, 1st Team All-Region
• 2017 1st Team All-State
• Was individual champion at the 2017 and 2018 Texas Region III-6A Championship
• Led Kingwood HS to the 2019 Region team title.
• 2018 Individual District Champion
• Helped Kingwood to seventh-place finish at 6A state championship
• In the Texas 6A state championships, placed:
  ^ fourth as a freshman in 2017 (68-73=141).
  ^ fourth as a freshman in 2017 (68-73=141).
  ^ 12th as a sophomore in 2018 (71-72=143).
  ^ 21st as a junior in 2019 (77-71=148).

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