Former Kildare golf academy instructor dies following apparent hostage situation in his home

Former Irish Open runner-up Wayne Westner has died following an apparent hostage situation at his home in South Africa yesterday morning. The South African native supposedly took his own life by shooting himself in the head in his own home while his wife and children locked themselves in the bathroom and called authorities. A South African police spokesperson said that Westner's family locked themselves in the bathroom and called the emergency services to report a hostage situation. “He allegedly wanted to see his wife and thereafter he allegedly shot himself,” said the spokesman. “The firearm used in the commission of the crime was seized by the police.” “An inquest has been opened after a man shot himself in front of his wife at Pennington area today. His body was removed to the KZN Medico-Legal Mortuary in Park Rynie for a postmortem examination.” Westner ran a golf academy in Celbridge, where he lived for nine years, with more than 1,100 people passing through to receive lessons during his time in the north Kildare town. He lived there from 1997 to 2006 before returning home to be closer to his family. The former European Tour winner lost a playoff against Nick Faldo at the 1992 Irish Open in Killarney, but he won 14 tournaments as a professional and competed in nine Majors.