When David Vanegas heard the opening event of the Challenge Tour season was going to be played at his home course in Colombia, his immediate thought was simple: “I’m going to win this”.
And last week the young native of Medellin – also the birthplace of Colombian superstar Camilo Villegas – was as good as his word, as he belied his tender years to finish four shots clear of runner-up Nathan Smith of America.
It was a performance which smacked of composure under pressure – a trait which Vanegas learned at an early age from his father, who employed an unusual method to motivate his young charge.
He said: “My Dad used to take me to the golf course every weekend from the age of five. I really remember the fourth hole, which had water in front of the green. If I hit it onto the green, my Dad would always buy me a sandwich on the next tee. But if I hit my ball into the water, the kid got nothing!”
Having developed an appetite for the game from an early age, Vanegas’ hunger for success should see his game reach the same heights scaled by many of his peers.
By capturing the Abierto Internacional de Golf II Copa Antioquia title, the 23 year old followed in the spikemarks of his friends and fellow South Americans Alan Wagner and Tano Goya, both of whom also made their breakthroughs in events co-sanctioned by the Challenge Tour and the Tour de las Americas (TLA).
Goya has since gone on to capture his maiden European Tour title in Madeira last year and, although the dust is yet to settle on his shiny new trophy, Vanegas harbours high hopes of one day treading a similar career path.
He said: “I haven’t decided what I’m going to do for the rest of the year, because I’ve just been enjoying the victory. But I’ll be playing some more tournaments on the Challenge Tour for sure, and I’ll be trying like Tano to get onto The European Tour through the Rankings. I’m really excited and looking forward to the rest of the season – to make it onto The European Tour would be a dream.
“I know Tano and Alan [Wagner] well, as we played together a lot in the Copa los Andes and other South American tournaments when we were younger. We had some great matches and inspired each other. They’re both great players, and hopefully I can be as good as them.”
The early signs are certainly promising. Despite having never before won a tournament since turning professional in December 2008 – the closest he had come was at the 2009 Abierto Internacional de Antioquia on the TLA, where he finished fourth behind Challenge Tour Member Peter Gustafsson of Sweden – last week Vanegas remained ice cool in the searing heat to justify his initial confidence.
He said: “From the very beginning my team and I were really optimistic, because we knew we had a big chance. When I first heard the tournament was going to be held in my hometown, we started preparing for it and I kept telling myself: “I’m going to win.” It was being played at my home course, which I know so well, and in front of many people I know – my parents, girlfriend, coach and lots of friends. They were a huge support for me. So I felt very confident all week, and my caddie and I did a great job.
“I was nervous before starting the first round, but I got off to a great start by getting to four under after eight holes, which gave me a lot of confidence. I was also very nervous on the final day, but after I birdied the first hole it helped me to relax and stay focused. And anyway, I like the feeling of playing under pressure. I didn’t really look at any leaderboards on the way round, but on the 15th tee I asked my caddie how we were doing. He told me we were fine, and that four more pars and the title was ours.
“It was only when I made the final putt on the 72nd hole that I knew for sure I had won the tournament. It was a great feeling – I don’t have the words to describe how good it felt. The first thing I did after was to visit my coach, who had been feeling unwell on the final day. I left the trophy with him for a few weeks, because I have a lot to thank him for.”
The other person Vanegas reserved special thanks for was his father – and having won €25,636 in prize money, presumably he can now afford to return the favour with those sandwiches.
