Guess what? Former Gopher Erik van Rooyen clinched his second PGA tour victory yesterday afternoon, and it was such a heartwarming moment. He triumphed at the World Wide Technology Championship, and what made it even more special was that he dedicated this win to his dear friend and former Gopher teammate, John Trasamar, who’s currently in a courageous battle with cancer. Erik shared this touching dedication during the broadcast and we’ll talk about it in a bit.
Erik van Rooyen was born on February 21, 1990, in Bellville, South Africa, as mentioned in his bio on the European Tour’s website. His proud parents, Wim and Elize van Rooyen, are a big part of his life, as you can find in his bio on the University of Minnesota’s website.
Now, you might be wondering about Erik’s family life and his lovely wife. Stay tuned as we dive into the details about The Open Championship contender’s family and loved ones. It’s always great to get to know the person behind the golf club!
Meet Erik van Rooyen’s wife Rose van Rooyen
The name of Erik van Rooyen’s wife is Rose (Roberts) van Rooyen.
Rooyen and his wife currently call Johannesburg, South Africa, their home sweet home, as shared on the European Tour website. Their home away from home is the Country Club Johannesburg.
As for the adorable couple’s backstory, Rose Roberts and Erik van Rooyen’s love story began back when they were both students at the University of Minnesota, as reported by the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. Fast forward to 2014, and they tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony. Rose van Rooyen, who’s 27 years young, hails from Woodbury, Minnesota, according to the newspaper.
Rose is quite the accomplished individual herself. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2013, holding degrees in retail merchandising from the Carlson School of Management and design. Fun fact: she was a part of the Fashion & Design club and even cheered for the hockey team – talk about a multi-talented spirit!
Her LinkedIn profile spills the beans on her early career, where she spent a year as a merchant analyst at BestBuy. These days, she’s been rocking it as an online retail buyer at BabyGroup in South Africa.
Also read: All You Need To Know About Greg Olsen’s Wife And Family
But wait, there’s more to Rose’s story. Not only does she have an impressive career, but she also spent some quality time as her husband’s caddie, a little tidbit revealed on the European Tour website. You could spot her right by Erik’s side on the Challenger Tour in 2017. What an awesome team they make on and off the golf course!
Erik van Rooyen’s Touching Tribute to Friend
Erik van Rooyen’s victory at the World Wide Technology Championship was about much more than just winning a golf tournament. It was a heartfelt tribute to his dear friend, Jon Trasamar. The silent embrace shared between Erik and his caddie, Alex Gaugert, after van Rooyen’s remarkable eagle putt spoke volumes.
Jon Trasamar, a former collegiate golf teammate of van Rooyen and Gaugert at the University of Minnesota, had been battling cancer. Their bond extended beyond the golf course, as they had won the 2014 Big Ten Championship together. Jon’s journey in professional golf had been filled with challenges, and he’d been in remission before his cancer returned and spread.
Erik, after securing his second PGA TOUR title, revealed the heartbreaking truth – Jon didn’t have much time left. They were flying to Minnesota to be with him, knowing that his time was limited.
Erik’s focus on the golf course wasn’t on winning for himself but on honoring his friend. Every shot he took during that championship was a tribute to Jon. The emotional victory, marked by an impressive eagle putt and a stunning 8-under back nine, secured Erik’s second TOUR title.
The win wasn’t just about career opportunities or the financial rewards; it was a dedicated triumph that celebrated the love and friendship he shared with Jon. As Erik said, when reflecting on life, it’s not the trophies that matter most but the cherished people in our lives. Jon Trasamar was one of those individuals, and this victory was a poignant reminder of the importance of the bonds we share with those we hold dear.