Amateur golfer from Sheffield qualifies for PGA Tour event after prestigious tournament win

Alex Fitzpatrick younger brother of former British Masters champion Matt Fitzpatrick, finished 12 under par at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational in Florida which featured some of the best-ranked college teams in the country.

It was the 22-year-old Wake Forest University student’s first collegiate win and earned him a place at The Valspar Championship scheduled to take place between April 28 and May 2 in Tampa, Florida.

He also moved up to a new high of 24 in The World Amateur Golf Rankings. He is currently the highest-ranking amateur British player.

Older brother Matt, 26, reached the summit of The World Amateur Golf Rankings in 2013 and is currently ranked sixteenth in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Following his brother’s win, he tweeted: “Unreal... so proud of @FitzAlex99! What a final round bogey free and 18 greens in reg! That’s how to close it out!!”

Alex, a member at Hallamshire Golf Club and former pupil at Tapton School in Crosspool, carded scores of 67, 66, and 68 to finish three shots ahead of second.

Wake Forest golf head coach Jerry Haas said: “It's really cool for Alex, his first collegiate win, and he earned an exemption to The Valspar.

"We're very proud of him and happy to see his hard work pay off."

Alex could be included in this year’s Great Britain and Ireland team for the Walker Cup in May.

He previously took part in the event, which is contested between leading amateur golfers from the USA and Great Britain and Ireland, in 2019.