Former Gamecock Wesley Bryan Named Web.com Player of the Year

Nov. 17, 2016

Courtesy Web.com Tour Staff

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Wesley Bryan of Augusta, Georgia was named 2016 Web.com Tour Player of the Year in a vote of his fellow competitors, it was announced Wednesday by PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem and Web.com Tour President Bill Calfee.

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I would like to congratulate Wesley Bryan on an outstanding year on the Web.com Tour,” Finchem said. “Wesley’s three-win season was one of the most impressive in Tour history, and helped to set a strong foundation for his ascension to the TOUR this fall. The Web.com Tour continues to develop some of the game’s top up-and-coming players, and Wesley is a stellar example of that trend.”

The 26-year-old was a rookie on the Web.com Tour in 2016 after finishing T9 at the Tour’s annual Qualifying Tournament in December of 2015. Bryan won in just his third start at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER in March, then vaulted to the top of the money list with a second victory at the El Bosque Mexico Championship in April.

Bryan remained atop the money list with two top-10 finishes in his next six starts – including a T2 effort at the Lincoln Land Charity Championship in July – before earning the Tour’s prestigious Three-Victory Promotion to the PGA TOUR via a win at the Digital Ally Open in August. The Chapin, South Carolina native became the 11th player in Tour history to earn the promotion, and the second-fastest to do so, trailing only Heath Slocum (2001) by two days.

As the combined money winner from both the Web.com Tour Regular Season and Finals ($449,392), Bryan is fully exempt on the PGA TOUR in 2016-17 and secured a spot in THE PLAYERS Championship in May.

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by my peers as Player of the Year,” said Bryan. “Having had the opportunity to compete on the Web.com Tour was a blessing. Not only is the Tour made up of quality players, they are a group of class guys who I’ve enjoyed competing against. There is no question I would not be as prepared to play the PGA TOUR as I am today without the Web.com Tour and the platform it provides. I cannot thank Mr. Brown, Web.com and the Tour’s long list of incredible sponsors, volunteers and staff enough for all of their help and support throughout the past year. I am looking forward to being recognized as a product of the Web.com Tour for years to come.”

A 2012 graduate of the University of South Carolina, Bryan toiled on golf’s mini-tours for three years before forming “Bryan Bros Golf” with older brother George. The duo used YouTube and social media to deliver trick shot videos to the masses, receiving coverage on outlets such as ESPN and USA Today, with the success leading to contracts from Callaway Golf, Lexus and GoPro, to name a few. The financial windfall from the videos allowed the brothers to continue chasing their respective PGA TOUR dreams, which Wesley achieved after just one season on the Web.com Tour.

“The entire Web.com family offers a sincere congratulations to Wesley Bryan for being named Web.com Tour Player of the Year,” said Web.com Chairman, CEO & President David Brown. “We are committed to developing the next wave of PGA TOUR stars, and stand confident in knowing that Wesley will certainly be at the top of an impressive list of 2016 Web.com Tour graduates.”

“Wesley Bryan’s 2016 season was impressive both inside the ropes and outside the ropes,” said Web.com Tour President Bill Calfee. “Three wins in just 15 starts highlights the wonderful talent he possesses, but his interaction with the media, tournament sponsors and fans makes him a wonderful ambassador for both our Tour and the game. We are honored to name him the Web.com Tour Player of the Year.”

Bryan was honored at a reception at the Sea Island (Ga.) Resort, host of this week’s RSM Classic, which gets underway Thursday.

For more information on the Web.com Tour, or Wesley Bryan, please visit PGATOUR.com.