Wayne Westner: Former Dubai Desert Classic champion ‘shot himself in front of his wife’

Former Dubai Desert Classic winner Wayne Westner died on Wednesday by gunshot in an alleged hostage situation in South Africa, a police spokesman has confirmed.

Wayne Westner alongside the Dubai Desert Classic trophy in 1993. He won the tournament by two shots ahead of fellow South African Retief Goosen. David Cannon / Getty Images

Former Dubai Desert Classic winner Wayne Westner died on Wednesday after he “shot himself in front of his wife” in South Africa, a police spokesman has confirmed.

Earlier on Wednesday, reports emerged in the South African media of a possible hostage situation at a Pennington residence in KwaZulu-Natal, a coastal province in South Africa.

“An inquest was opened after a man allegedly shot himself in front of his wife at Pennington area today,” South African Police Service spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane said.

“Wayne Brett Westner died in a shooting incident at the Gwala Gwala Estate in Rahle Road‚ Pennington at about 8am. His body was removed to the KZN Medico-Legal Mortuary in Park Rynie for a post mortem examination.”

Westner, 55, won the 1993 Dubai Desert Classic, beating compatriot Retief Goosen by two shots. It was the fourth edition of the tournament and the second since it changed its name to the Dubai Desert Classic.

Westner won 14 professional events in his career, including two on the European Tour and the South African Open in 1988 and 1991, as well as the 1996 World Cup of Golf with Ernie Es. He reached a career high No 40 in the world rankings. His career ended in 1998 due to injury.

Upon retiring, Westner set up a golf school in Ireland. More recently in 2013, Westner opened the Wayne Westner Golf College in KwaZulu-Natal.

* The National staff

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport