A former European Tour pro golfer took his family hostage before fatally shooting himself in the head Wednesday.
Wayne Westner, a 55-year-old South African who was ranked 65th in the world in 1996,*killed himself after forcing his way into the family home*while armed with a handgun, demanding to see his wife. The couple had recently separated, according to a police spokesman.
Westner’s wife, Alison, and the couple's adult children locked themselves in a bathroom after he broke into the house in Pennington, South Africa,*according to the Mirror. Police said he shot himself in the head in front of his wife.
“He allegedly wanted to see his wife and thereafter he allegedly shot himself,” South African Police Service Lieutenant Colonel Thulane Zwane*told Eyewitness News. “The firearm used in the commission of the crime was seized by the police.”
Westner won 14 times as a pro, including twice on the European Tour. He also won the 1996 World Cup of Golf with fellow South African Ernie Els before being forced to retire due to injury in 1998.
“Sad day, our friend Wayne Westner passed today. Great memories thank you my friend,” Els said on Twitter.
Westner tried to make a comeback at the 2014 Dubai Desert Classic but missed the cut.
He is the inventor of the Instant Golfer, a training machine, and started the Wayne Westner Golf College.
Wayne Westner, a 55-year-old South African who was ranked 65th in the world in 1996,*killed himself after forcing his way into the family home*while armed with a handgun, demanding to see his wife. The couple had recently separated, according to a police spokesman.
Westner’s wife, Alison, and the couple's adult children locked themselves in a bathroom after he broke into the house in Pennington, South Africa,*according to the Mirror. Police said he shot himself in the head in front of his wife.
“He allegedly wanted to see his wife and thereafter he allegedly shot himself,” South African Police Service Lieutenant Colonel Thulane Zwane*told Eyewitness News. “The firearm used in the commission of the crime was seized by the police.”
Westner won 14 times as a pro, including twice on the European Tour. He also won the 1996 World Cup of Golf with fellow South African Ernie Els before being forced to retire due to injury in 1998.
“Sad day, our friend Wayne Westner passed today. Great memories thank you my friend,” Els said on Twitter.
Westner tried to make a comeback at the 2014 Dubai Desert Classic but missed the cut.
He is the inventor of the Instant Golfer, a training machine, and started the Wayne Westner Golf College.
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