South African Open (golf)

The South African Open Championship is one of the oldest national open golf championships in the world, having first been played in 1903, and is one of the principal tournaments on the Southern-Africa-based Sunshine Tour. Since 1997 it has also been co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

South African Open
Tournament information
LocationSun City, South Africa
Established1903
Course(s)Gary Player Country Club
Tour(s)Sunshine Tour
European Tour (1997–)
Asian Tour (2018)
FormatStroke play
Prize fundR 19,500,000
Month playedDecember
Tournament record score
Aggregate264 Ernie Els (2006)
To par−24 (as above)
Current champion
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Location Map
Gary Player CC
Location in South Africa
Gary Player CC
Gary Player CC (North West (South African province))

From 1999 to 2016, the tournament was the Sunshine Tour's flagship event for the purposes of the Official World Golf Ranking, earning a minimum of 32 OWGR points for the winner. It was replaced as the flagship event for 2017 by the Alfred Dunhill Championship before regaining its status the following year.[1] In 2020, the Alfred Dunhill Championship once again replaced the South African Open as the tour's flagship event.[2]

In December 2018, the event became part of the Open Qualifying Series, giving up to three non-exempt players entry into The Open Championship.

History

The first formal event was organised in 1903, following a series of exhibition matches that had been held over the preceding ten years. The championship was initially contested over just 36 holes until 1908, when it was extended to become a 72-hole tournament.[3] Although non-whites had played in the South African Open before, most notably when Papwa Sewgolum finished second in 1963, it was not until 1972 that black golfers were allowed to compete.[4]

From 2011 until February 2020 it was held in the Johannesburg area; twice at Serengeti Golf Club, followed by five times at Glendower Golf Club, and then twice at Randpark Golf Club. In December 2020 it will move away from Johannesburg and be held at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.

Gary Player has been the most successful player in the tournament's history, with 13 victories over four decades between 1956 and 1981. Bobby Locke won nine titles, Sid Brews won eight titles, and George Fotheringham won the event five times.

Winners

Year[lower-alpha 1]Tour[lower-alpha 2]Winner[lower-alpha 3]ScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up[lower-alpha 3]VenueRef
South African Open
2020 (Dec)AFR, EUR Christiaan Bezuidenhout270−185 strokes Jamie DonaldsonGary Player CC
South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg
2020 (Jan)AFR, EUR Branden Grace263−213 strokes Louis OosthuizenRandpark GC
2019No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
2018 (Dec)AFR, EUR Louis Oosthuizen266−186 strokes Romain LangasqueRandpark GC
BMW SA Open
2018 (Jan)AFR, EUR Chris Paisley267−213 strokes Branden GraceGlendower GC
2017AFR, EUR Graeme Storm270−18Playoff[lower-alpha 4] Rory McIlroyGlendower GC[5]
2016AFR, EUR Brandon Stone274−142 strokes Christiaan BezuidenhoutGlendower GC
South African Open Championship
2015AFR, EUR Andy Sullivan277−11Playoff[lower-alpha 5] Charl SchwartzelGlendower GC[6]
2014No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January
2013AFR, EUR Morten Ørum Madsen269−192 strokes Jbe' Kruger
Hennie Otto
Glendower GC
SA Open Championship
2012AFR, EUR Henrik Stenson271−173 strokes George CoetzeeSerengeti GC
2011AFR, EUR Hennie Otto274−141 stroke Bernd WiesbergerSerengeti GC
South African Open Championship
2010AFR, EUR Ernie Els (5)263−25[lower-alpha 6]1 stroke Retief GoosenDurban CC
2009AFR, EUR Richie Ramsay275−13Playoff[lower-alpha 7] Shiv KapurPearl Valley[7]
2008AFR, EUR Richard Sterne274−14Playoff[lower-alpha 8] Gareth MaybinPearl Valley[8]
South African Airways Open
2007AFR, EUR James Kingston284−41 stroke Oliver WilsonPearl Valley
2006AFR, EUR Ernie Els (4)264−243 strokes Trevor ImmelmanHumewood GC
2005 (Dec)AFR, EUR Retief Goosen (2)282−101 stroke Ernie ElsFancourt
2005 (Jan)AFR, EUR Tim Clark (2)273−156 strokes Grégory Havret
Charl Schwartzel
Durban CC
2004AFR, EUR Trevor Immelman (2)276−123 strokes Alastair Forsyth
Steve Webster
Erinvale GC
2003AFR, EUR Trevor Immelman274−14Playoff[lower-alpha 9] Tim ClarkErinvale GC[9]
Bell's South African Open
2002AFR, EUR Tim Clark269−192 strokes Steve WebsterThe Country Club
Mercedes-Benz South African Open
2001AFR, EUR Mark McNulty (2)280−81 stroke Justin RoseEast London GC
2000AFR, EUR Mathias Grönberg274−141 stroke Darren Fichardt
Ricardo González
Nick Price
Randpark GC
Mercedes-Benz – Vodacom South African Open
1999AFR, EUR David Frost (2)279−51 stroke Scott Dunlap
Jeev Milkha Singh
Stellenbosch GC
South African Open
1998AFR, EUR Ernie Els (3)273−153 strokes David FrostDurban CC
1997AFR, EUR Vijay Singh270−181 stroke Nick PriceGlendower GC
Phillips South African Open
1996AFR Ernie Els (2)275−131 stroke Brenden PappasRoyal Cape GC
1995AFR Retief Goosen275−135 strokes Ernie ElsRandpark GC
1994No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
1993 (Dec)AFR Tony Johnstone (2)267−217 strokes Ernie ElsDurban CC
1993 (Feb)AFR Clinton Whitelaw279−92 strokes Retief GoosenGlendower GC
Protea Assurance South African Open
1992AFR Ernie Els273−153 strokes Derek JamesHoughton GC
1991AFR Wayne Westner (2)272−164 strokes Mark James
Tony Johnstone
Durban CC
1990AFR Trevor Dodds285−31 stroke Hugh Royer IIIRoyal Cape[10]
1989AFR Fred Wadsworth278−101 stroke Tom LehmanGlendower
Southern Suns South African Open
1988AFR Wayne Westner275−132 strokes Ian MoseyDurban CC[11]
1987AFR Mark McNulty278−10Playoff[lower-alpha 10] Fulton AllemMowbray[12][13]
1986AFR David Frost275−133 strokes Tony JohnstoneRoyal Johannesburg[14]
South African Open Championship
Title sponsors unknown 1983–1985
1985AFR Gavan Levenson280−83 strokes Phil SimmonsRoyal Durban[15]
1984AFR Tony Johnstone274−143 strokes Fulton AllemHoughton
1983AFR Charlie Bolling278−101 stroke Tertius ClaassensRoyal Cape
1982No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
Datson South African Open
1981AFR Gary Player (13)272−16Playoff[lower-alpha 11] John Bland
Warren Humphreys
Royal Johannesburg[16]
1980AFR Bobby Cole (2)279−94 strokes Mark McNultyDurban CC[17]
British Airways/Yellow Pages South African Open
1979AFR Gary Player (12)279−91 stroke Ian MoseyHoughton[18]
Yellow Pages South African Open
1978AFR Hugh Baiocchi285−31 stroke Gavan LevensonMowbray[19]
1977AFR Gary Player (11)273−153 strokes Bobby Cole
Dale Hayes
Royal Johannesburg
1976 (Nov)AFR Gary Player (10)280−86 strokes David Suddards (a)
Bobby Verwey
Durban CC[20]
BP South African Open
1976 (Feb)AFR Dale Hayes287−1Playoff[lower-alpha 12] John FourieHoughton[21]
1975AFR Gary Player (9)278−106 strokes Allan HenningMowbray[22]
South African Open Championship
1974AFR Bobby Cole272−164 strokes Allan HenningRoyal Johannesburg[23]
1973AFR Bob Charles282−63 strokes Vin Baker
Bobby Cole
Graham Marsh
Durban CC[24]
1972AFR Gary Player (8)274−181 stroke Bobby ColeRoyal Johannesburg[25]
1971 Simon Hobday276−121 stroke Gary PlayerMowbray[26]
1970 Tommy Horton2853 strokes Terry WestbrookRoyal Durban
1969 Gary Player (7)2736 strokes Trevor WilkesDurban CC
1968 Gary Player (6)2747 strokes Cobie LegrangeHoughton
1967 Gary Player (5)2793 strokes Allan Henning
Mike Hoyle
East London
1966 Gary Player (4)2781 stroke Harold Henning
Cobie Legrange
Houghton
1965 Gary Player (3)2733 strokes John HayesRoyal Cape
1964No tournament due to two events in 1963
1963 (Dec) Allan Henning2782 strokes Bruce KeyterBloemfontein
1963 (Mar) Retief Waltman (2)2811 stroke Sewsunker SewgolumDurban CC
1962 Harold Henning (2)2851 stroke Denis HutchinsonHoughton
1961 Retief Waltman2898 strokes Barry Franklin (a)East London
1960 Gary Player (2)2807 strokes Harold Henning
Tommy Trevena
Mowbray
1959 Denis Hutchinson (a)2821 stroke Gary PlayerRoyal Johannesburg
1958 Arthur Stewart2811 stroke Bobby LockeBloemfontein
1957 Harold Henning289Playoff[lower-alpha 13] Sandy GuthrieHumewood
1956 Gary Player2863 strokes Bruce KeyterDurban CC
1955 Bobby Locke (9)2831 stroke Reg TaylorZwartkop
1954 Reg Taylor (a)2892 strokes Jannie le RouxEast London
1953 Jimmy Boyd302Playoff[lower-alpha 14] Otway HayesRoyal Cape
1952 Sid Brews (8)3051 stroke Sandy GuthrieHumewood
1951 Bobby Locke (8)2779 strokes Jimmy Boyd (a)
Harry Bradshaw
Houghton
1950 Bobby Locke (7)28011 strokes Sandy GuthrieDurban CC
1949 Sid Brews (7)2913 strokes Eric MooreMaccauvlei
1948 Mickey Janks (a)298Playoff[lower-alpha 15] Sandy GuthrieEast London
1947 Ronnie Glennie (a)2931 stroke Eric MooreMowbray
1946 Bobby Locke (6)28514 strokesSteve Boshoff (a)Royal Johannesburg
1941–1945No tournament due to World War II
1940 Bobby Locke (5)29310 strokesSteve Boshoff (a)Port Elizabeth
1939 Bobby Locke (4)2798 strokesMaurice Bodmer (a)
Clarence Olander (a)
Durban CC
1938 Bobby Locke (3)2795 strokes Sid BrewsMaccauvlei
1937 Bobby Locke (a) (2)28811 strokes Clarence Olander (a)East London
1936 Clarence Olander (a)297Playoff[lower-alpha 16]J RobertsonRoyal Cape
1935 Bobby Locke (a)2963 strokesJock Verwey (a)Parkview
1934 Sid Brews (6)3197 strokesJock Verwey (a)Humewood
1933 Sid Brews (5)2973 strokes Charles McIlvennyMaccauvlei
1932 Charles McIlvenny3044 strokes Bob GrimsdellMowbray
1931 Sid Brews (4)3023 strokes Bob Grimsdell
Charles McIlvenny
Port Elizabeth
1930 Sid Brews (3)29711 strokes Jock BrewsEast London
1929 Archie Tosh3151 stroke Jock BrewsRoyal Cape
1928 Jock Brews (4)2971 stroke Sid BrewsDurban CC
1927 Sid Brews (2)3015 strokes Bert Elkin
Charles McIlvenny
Maccauvlei
1926 Jock Brews (3)3019 strokes Bert ElkinPort Elizabeth
1925 Sid Brews2953 strokes Jock BrewsJohannesburg
1924 Bert Elkin3169 strokes Jock Brews
Sid Brews
Durban CC
1923 Jock Brews (2)3151 stroke Archie ToshRoyal Cape
1922 Fred Jangle3107 strokes Jock BrewsPort Alfred
1921 Jock Brews3163 strokes Archie ToshPort Elizabeth
1920 Laurie Waters (4)3022 strokes Bert ElkinJohannesburg
1919 William Horne3209 strokes Hugh Gordon Stewart (a)Durban
1915–1918No tournament due to World War I
1914 George Fotheringham (5)29920 strokes Jock BrewsRoyal Cape
1913 Jimmy Prentice (a)3042 strokes Willie Binnie
Jack Fotheringham
Kimberley
1912 George Fotheringham (4)30510 strokes Laurie WatersPotchefstroom
1911 George Fotheringham (3)30111 strokes David GuthrieDurban
1910 George Fotheringham (2)3155 strokes Arthur GrayRoyal Cape
1909 Jack Fotheringham3062 strokes George FotheringhamPotchefstroom
1908 George Fotheringham2949 strokes Laurie WatersPort Elizabeth
1907 Laurie Waters (3)147[lower-alpha 17][lower-alpha 18]5 strokes Walter Day JrKimberley
1906 Arthur Gray (2)151[lower-alpha 17]3 strokesH. F. Watson (a)East London
1905 Arthur Gray[lower-alpha 17]Playoff[lower-alpha 19] George FotheringhamGarrison Club
1904 Laurie Waters (2)143[lower-alpha 17]4 strokes Arthur GrayJohannesburg
1903 Laurie Waters163[lower-alpha 17]3 strokesJ. W. StewartPort Elizabeth
  1. Due to seasonal scheduling, the South African Open has been held twice in some years and not at all in others.
  2. AFR – Sunshine Tour, previously known as the South(ern) Africa Tour/Vodacom Tour/FNB Tour/Sunshine Circuit; EUR – European Tour
  3. (a) – Amateur
  4. Storm won with a par on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  5. Sullivan won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  6. Not an official record score because the 4th hole was unplayable during the 3rd and 4th rounds due to heavy rain. For scoring purposes, all players were deemed to have recorded a par for the hole.
  7. Ramsay won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  8. Sterne won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  9. Immelman won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  10. McNulty won on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  11. Player defeated Bland with a birdie on the third hole of sudden-death after both had tied with 2 under-par 70s after an 18-hole playoff; Humphreys returned a level-par 72 in the playoff.
  12. Hayes won following an 18-hole playoff; Hayes 69, Fourie 72.
  13. Henning won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 144 to Guthrie's 146.
  14. Boyd won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 162 to Hayes 163.
  15. Janks won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 147 to Guthrie's 153.
  16. Olander won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 146 to Robertson's 151.
  17. Tournament held over 36 holes prior to 1908.
  18. Some sources have Waters score as 146.
  19. Gray won the playoff by a stroke with a score of 151.

Source: [3][27]

Multiple winners

Eighteen men have won this tournament more than once through 2018.

WinsPlayerCountryYears won
13Gary Player South Africa1956, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981
9Bobby Locke South Africa1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1955
8Sid Brews South Africa1925, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1949, 1952
5George Fotheringham Scotland1908, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1914
5Ernie Els South Africa1992, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2010
4Laurie Waters South Africa1903, 1904, 1907, 1920
4Jock Brews South Africa1921, 1923, 1926, 1928
2Arthur Gray England1905, 1906
2Harold Henning South Africa1957, 1962
2Retief Waltman South Africa1961, 1963
2Bobby Cole South Africa1974, 1980
2Wayne Westner South Africa1988, 1991
2Tony Johnstone Zimbabwe1984, 1993 (Dec)
2David Frost South Africa1986, 1999
2Mark McNulty Zimbabwe1987, 2001
2Trevor Immelman South Africa2003, 2004
2Tim Clark South Africa2002, 2005 (Jan)
2Retief Goosen South Africa1995, 2005 (Dec)

References

  1. "SA Open receives world ranking flagship status". News 24. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. "How the ranking evolved". Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  3. "SA Amateur & Open". South African Golf Association. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  4. "South African Open Championship History and Highlights". South African Open Championship. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  5. "South African Open: Graeme Storm beats Rory McIlroy in play-off to win title". BBC Sport. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  6. "Andy Sullivan wins South African Open for first European Tour title". BBC Sport. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  7. Bisset, Fergus (20 December 2009). "Richie Ramsay wins South African Open Championship". Golf Monthly. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  8. Bisset, Fergus (21 December 2008). "Richard Sterne Wins South African Open Championship". Golf Monthly. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  9. "For Immelman, 'greatest way to start the year'". ESPN. Associated Press. 12 January 2003. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  10. McCormack, Mark H. (1991). The World of Professional Golf 1991. Chapmans. p. 495. ISBN 1855925583.
  11. "Switch in time a knock-out for Darcy". The Glasgow Herald. 1 February 1988. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  12. "Mark McNulty". The Glasgow Herald. 9 February 1987. p. 10. Retrieved 21 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  13. McCormack, Mark H. (1988). Ebel World of Professional Golf 1988. Collins Willow. pp. 220, 439–440. ISBN 0002182831.
  14. "David Frost". The Glasgow Herald. 10 February 1987. p. 11. Retrieved 21 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  15. "Golf". The Guardian. 28 January 1985. p. 23. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Player makes it a lucky thirteenth". The Glasgow Herald. 7 December 1981. p. 16. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  17. "Palmer senior champ". The Montreal Gazette. 8 December 1980. p. 19. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  18. "Weekend sport in brief | Golf". The Glasgow Herald. 10 December 1979. p. 19. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  19. "South African Open". The Montreal Gazette. 11 December 1978. p. 38. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  20. "Gary wins record 10th open". The Age. 29 November 1975. p. 24. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  21. "Hayes triumphs in play-off". The Glasgow Herald. 3 February 1976. p. 23. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  22. "Its the Player habit". The Age. 3 February 1975. p. 25. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  23. "Cole wins SA Open". The Glasgow Herald. 4 February 1974. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  24. Jacobs, Raymond (5 February 1973). "Revised Charles swing again pays dividends". The Glasgow Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  25. "Player wins by one stroke". The Glasgow Herald. 14 February 1972. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  26. "Hobday holds off Player". The Glasgow Herald. 15 February 1971. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 via Google News Archive.
  27. The Allied Book of South African Sport & Sports Records. SASBOR. 1988. pp. 1941–1949. ISBN 0620128828 via Google Books.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.