South African Open (golf)

Golf tournament From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The South African Open 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.

LocationStellenbosch, South Africa
Established1903
CourseStellenbosch Golf Club
Par70
Quick facts Tournament information, Location ...
Investec South African Open Championship
Tournament information
LocationStellenbosch, South Africa
Established1903
CourseStellenbosch Golf Club
Par70
Length7,213 yards (6,596 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
Sunshine Tour
Asian Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$1,500,000
Month playedFebruary/March
Tournament record score
Aggregate263 Branden Grace (2020)
To par−24 Ernie Els (2006)
Current champion
South Africa Casey Jarvis
Location map
Stellenbosch GC is located in South Africa
Stellenbosch GC
Stellenbosch GC
Location in South Africa
Stellenbosch GC is located in Western Cape
Stellenbosch GC
Stellenbosch GC
Location in Western Cape
Close

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.[1] 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.[2]

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 as did Ernie Els.

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

The 2021 event was scheduled to be a co-sanctioned event between the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour. However due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in place in the UK from South Africa, the event was revised as a sole-sanctioned Sunshine Tour event.[3]

Flagship event

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.[4] In 2020, the Alfred Dunhill Championship once again replaced the South African Open as the tour's flagship event.[5] In 2021, the Alfred Dunhill Championship was scheduled to be the flagship event for the second consecutive year. However due to the cancellation of the tournament, the South African Open regained its flagship event status for the first time since the January 2020 event.[6]

Winners

Sunshine Tour (Flagship event) 1999–2016, 2018–2020 (Jan), 2021
Sunshine Tour (Regular) 1972–1998, 2017, 2020 (Dec), 2022–
Pre-Sunshine Tour1903–1971
More information #, Year ...
#YearTour(s)[a]Winner[b]ScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up[b]VenueRef.
Investec South African Open Championship
115th 2026AFR, EURSouth Africa Casey Jarvis266−143 strokesSouth Africa Hennie du Plessis
France Frédéric Lacroix
Italy Francesco Laporta		Stellenbosch
114th 2025AFR, EURSouth Africa Dylan Naidoo202[c]−14PlayoffEngland Laurie CanterDurban
2024: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to March
113th 2023AFR, EURSouth Africa Dean Burmester277−113 strokesItaly Renato Paratore
Sweden Jesper Svensson
South Africa Ryan van Velzen		Blair Atholl
112th 2022AFR, EURSouth Africa Thriston Lawrence272−161 strokeFrance Clément SordetBlair Atholl
SA Open Championship
111th 2021AFR, EUR[d]South Africa Daniel van Tonder272−161 strokeSouth Africa Oliver BekkerGary Player
South African Open
110th 2020
(Dec)		AFR, EURSouth Africa Christiaan Bezuidenhout270−185 strokesWales Jamie DonaldsonGary Player
109th 2020
(Jan)		AFR, EURSouth Africa Branden Grace263−213 strokesSouth Africa Louis OosthuizenRandpark
2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
108th 2018
(Dec)		AFR, ASA, EURSouth Africa Louis Oosthuizen266−186 strokesFrance Romain LangasqueRandpark
BMW SA Open
107th 2018
(Jan)		AFR, EUREngland Chris Paisley267−213 strokesSouth Africa Branden GraceGlendower
106th 2017AFR, EUREngland Graeme Storm270−18Playoff[e]Northern Ireland Rory McIlroyGlendower[8]
105th 2016AFR, EURSouth Africa Brandon Stone274−142 strokesSouth Africa Christiaan BezuidenhoutGlendower
South African Open Championship
104th 2015AFR, EUREngland Andy Sullivan277−11Playoff[f]South Africa Charl SchwartzelGlendower[9]
2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January
103rd 2013AFR, EURDenmark Morten Ørum Madsen269−192 strokesSouth Africa Jbe' Kruger
South Africa Hennie Otto		Glendower
SA Open Championship
102nd 2012AFR, EURSweden Henrik Stenson271−173 strokesSouth Africa George CoetzeeSerengeti
101st 2011AFR, EURSouth Africa Hennie Otto274−141 strokeAustria Bernd WiesbergerSerengeti
South African Open Championship
100th 2010AFR, EURSouth Africa Ernie Els (5)263[g]−25[g]1 strokeSouth Africa Retief GoosenDurban
99th 2009AFR, EURScotland Richie Ramsay275−13Playoff[h]India Shiv KapurPearl Valley[10]
98th 2008AFR, EURSouth Africa Richard Sterne274−14Playoff[i]Northern Ireland Gareth MaybinPearl Valley[11]
South African Airways Open
97th 2007AFR, EURSouth Africa James Kingston284−41 strokeEngland Oliver WilsonPearl Valley
96th 2006AFR, EURSouth Africa Ernie Els (4)264−243 strokesSouth Africa Trevor ImmelmanHumewood
95th 2005
(Dec)		AFR, EURSouth Africa Retief Goosen (2)282−101 strokeSouth Africa Ernie ElsFancourt
94th 2005
(Jan)		AFR, EURSouth Africa Tim Clark (2)273−156 strokesFrance Grégory Havret
South Africa Charl Schwartzel		Durban
93rd 2004AFR, EURSouth Africa Trevor Immelman (2)276−123 strokesScotland Alastair Forsyth
England Steve Webster		Erinvale
92nd 2003AFR, EURSouth Africa Trevor Immelman274−14Playoff[j]South Africa Tim ClarkErinvale[12]
Bell's South African Open
91st 2002AFR, EURSouth Africa Tim Clark269−192 strokesEngland Steve WebsterThe Country Club[13]
Mercedes-Benz South African Open
90th 2001AFR, EURZimbabwe Mark McNulty (2)280−81 strokeEngland Justin RoseEast London
89th 2000AFR, EURSweden Mathias Grönberg274−141 strokeSouth Africa Darren Fichardt
Argentina Ricardo González
Zimbabwe Nick Price		Randpark
Mercedes-Benz - Vodacom South African Open
88th 1999AFR, EURSouth Africa David Frost (2)279−51 strokeUnited States Scott Dunlap
India Jeev Milkha Singh		Stellenbosch
South African Open
87th 1998AFR, EURSouth Africa Ernie Els (3)273−153 strokesSouth Africa David FrostDurban
86th 1997AFR, EURFiji Vijay Singh270−181 strokeZimbabwe Nick PriceGlendower
Phillips South African Open
85th 1996AFRSouth Africa Ernie Els (2)275−131 strokeSouth Africa Brenden PappasRoyal Cape
84th 1995AFRSouth Africa Retief Goosen275−135 strokesSouth Africa Ernie ElsRandpark
1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
83rd 1993
(Dec)		AFRZimbabwe Tony Johnstone (2)267−217 strokesSouth Africa Ernie ElsDurban
82nd 1993
(Feb)		AFRSouth Africa Clinton Whitelaw279−92 strokesSouth Africa Retief GoosenGlendower
Protea Assurance South African Open
81st 1992AFRSouth Africa Ernie Els273−153 strokesSouth Africa Derek JamesHoughton
80th 1991AFRSouth Africa Wayne Westner (2)272−164 strokesEngland Mark James
Zimbabwe Tony Johnstone		Durban
79th 1990AFRSouth West Africa Trevor Dodds285−31 strokeUnited States Hugh Royer IIIRoyal Cape[14]
78th 1989AFRUnited States Fred Wadsworth278−101 strokeUnited States Tom LehmanGlendower
Southern Suns South African Open
77th 1988AFRSouth Africa Wayne Westner275−132 strokesEngland Ian MoseyDurban[15]
76th 1987AFRZimbabwe Mark McNulty278−10Playoff[k]South Africa Fulton AllemMowbray[16][17]
75th 1986AFRSouth Africa David Frost275−133 strokesZimbabwe Tony JohnstoneRoyal Johannesburg[18]
South African Open
74th 1985AFRSouth Africa Gavan Levenson280−83 strokesSouth Africa Phil SimmonsRoyal Durban[19]
73rd 1984AFRZimbabwe Tony Johnstone274−143 strokesSouth Africa Fulton AllemHoughton
72nd 1983AFRUnited States Charlie Bolling278−101 strokeSouth Africa Tertius ClaassensRoyal Cape[20]
1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
Datsun South African Open
71st 1981AFRSouth Africa Gary Player (13)272−16Playoff[l]South Africa John Bland
England Warren Humphreys		Royal Johannesburg[21]
70th 1980AFRSouth Africa Bobby Cole (2)279−94 strokesZimbabwe Mark McNultyDurban[22]
British Airways/Yellow Pages South African Open
69th 1979AFRSouth Africa Gary Player (12)279−91 strokeEngland Ian MoseyHoughton[23]
Yellow Pages South African Open
68th 1978AFRSouth Africa Hugh Baiocchi285−31 strokeSouth Africa Gavan LevensonMowbray[24]
67th 1977AFRSouth Africa Gary Player (11)273−153 strokesSouth Africa Bobby Cole
South Africa Dale Hayes		Royal Johannesburg
66th 1976
(Nov)		AFRSouth Africa Gary Player (10)280−86 strokesSouth Africa David Suddards (a)
South Africa Bobby Verwey		Durban[25]
BP South African Open
65th 1976
(Jan)		AFRSouth Africa Dale Hayes287−1Playoff[m]South Africa John FourieHoughton[26]
64th 1975AFRSouth Africa Gary Player (9)278−106 strokesSouth Africa Allan HenningMowbray[27]
South African Open
63rd 1974AFRSouth Africa Bobby Cole272−164 strokesSouth Africa Allan HenningRoyal Johannesburg[28]
BP South African Open
62nd 1973AFRNew Zealand Bob Charles282−63 strokesSouth Africa Vin Baker
South Africa Bobby Cole
Australia Graham Marsh		Durban[29]
South African Open
61st 1972AFRSouth Africa Gary Player (8)274−181 strokeSouth Africa Bobby ColeRoyal Johannesburg[30]
60th 1971Rhodesia Simon Hobday276−121 strokeSouth Africa Gary PlayerMowbray[31]
59th 1970England Tommy Horton2853 strokesSouth Africa Terry WestbrookRoyal Durban
58th 1969South Africa Gary Player (7)2736 strokesSouth Africa Trevor WilkesDurban
57th 1968South Africa Gary Player (6)2747 strokesSouth Africa Cobie LegrangeHoughton
56th 1967South Africa Gary Player (5)2793 strokesSouth Africa Allan Henning
England Mike Hoyle		East London
55th 1966South Africa Gary Player (4)2781 strokeSouth Africa Harold Henning
South Africa Cobie Legrange		Houghton
54th 1965South Africa Gary Player (3)2733 strokesSouth Africa John HayesRoyal Cape
1964: No tournament due to two events in 1963
53rd 1963
(Dec)		South Africa Allan Henning2782 strokesSouth Africa Bruce KeyterBloemfontein
52nd 1963
(Mar)		South Africa Retief Waltman (2)2811 strokeSouth Africa Sewsunker SewgolumDurban
51st 1962South Africa Harold Henning (2)2851 strokeSouth Africa Denis HutchinsonHoughton
50th 1961South Africa Retief Waltman2898 strokesSouth Africa Barry Franklin (a)East London
49th 1960South Africa Gary Player (2)2807 strokesSouth Africa Harold Henning
South Africa Tommy Trevena		Mowbray
48th 1959South Africa Denis Hutchinson (a)2821 strokeSouth Africa Gary PlayerRoyal Johannesburg
47th 1958South Africa Arthur Stewart (a)2811 strokeSouth Africa Bobby LockeBloemfontein
46th 1957South Africa Harold Henning289Playoff[n]South Africa Sandy GuthrieHumewood
45th 1956South Africa Gary Player2863 strokesSouth Africa Bruce KeyterDurban
44th 1955South Africa Bobby Locke (9)2831 strokeSouth Africa Reg TaylorZwartkop
43rd 1954South Africa Reg Taylor (a)2892 strokesSouth Africa Jannie le Roux (a)East London
42nd 1953South Africa Jimmy Boyd (a)302Playoff[o]South Africa Otway HayesRoyal Cape
41st 1952South Africa Sid Brews (8)3051 strokeSouth Africa Sandy GuthrieHumewood
40th 1951South Africa Bobby Locke (8)2779 strokesSouth Africa Jimmy Boyd (a)
Republic of Ireland Harry Bradshaw		Houghton
39th 1950South Africa Bobby Locke (7)28011 strokesSouth Africa Sandy GuthrieDurban
38th 1949South Africa Sid Brews (7)2913 strokesSouth Africa Eric MooreMaccauvlei
37th 1948South Africa Mickey Janks (a)298Playoff[p]South Africa Sandy GuthrieEast London
36th 1947South Africa Ronnie Glennie (a)2931 strokeSouth Africa Eric MooreMowbray
35th 1946South Africa Bobby Locke (6)28514 strokesSteve Boshoff (a)Royal Johannesburg
1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II
34th 1940South Africa Bobby Locke (5)29310 strokesSteve Boshoff (a)Port Elizabeth
33rd 1939South Africa Bobby Locke (4)2798 strokesMaurice Bodmer (a)
South Africa Clarence Olander (a)		Durban
32nd 1938South Africa Bobby Locke (3)2795 strokesSouth Africa Sid BrewsMaccauvlei
31st 1937South Africa Bobby Locke (a) (2)28811 strokesSouth Africa Clarence Olander (a)East London
30th 1936South Africa Clarence Olander (a)297Playoff[q]J RobertsonRoyal Cape
29th 1935South Africa Bobby Locke (a)2963 strokesJock Verwey (a)Parkview
28th 1934South Africa Sid Brews (6)3197 strokesJock Verwey (a)Humewood
27th 1933South Africa Sid Brews (5)2973 strokesEngland Charles McIlvennyMaccauvlei
26th 1932England Charles McIlvenny3044 strokesEngland Bob GrimsdellMowbray
25th 1931South Africa Sid Brews (4)3023 strokesEngland Bob Grimsdell
England Charles McIlvenny		Port Elizabeth
24th 1930South Africa Sid Brews (3)29711 strokesSouth Africa Jock BrewsEast London
23rd 1929Scotland Archie Tosh3151 strokeSouth Africa Jock BrewsRoyal Cape
22nd 1928South Africa Jock Brews (4)2971 strokeSouth Africa Sid BrewsDurban
21st 1927South Africa Sid Brews (2)3015 strokesEngland Bert Elkin
England Charles McIlvenny		Maccauvlei
20th 1926South Africa Jock Brews (3)3019 strokesEngland Bert ElkinPort Elizabeth
19th 1925South Africa Sid Brews2953 strokesSouth Africa Jock BrewsJohannesburg
18th 1924England Bert Elkin3169 strokesSouth Africa Jock Brews
South Africa Sid Brews		Durban
17th 1923South Africa Jock Brews (2)3151 strokeScotland Archie ToshRoyal Cape
16th 1922South Africa Fred Jangle3107 strokesSouth Africa Jock BrewsPort Alfred
15th 1921South Africa Jock Brews3163 strokesScotland Archie ToshPort Elizabeth
14th 1920Scotland Laurie Waters (4)3022 strokesEngland Bert ElkinJohannesburg
13th 1919England William Horne3209 strokesScotland Hugh Gordon Stewart (a)Durban
1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I
12th 1914Scotland George Fotheringham (5)29920 strokesSouth Africa Jock BrewsRoyal Cape
11th 1913Scotland Jimmy Prentice (a)3042 strokesScotland Willie Binnie
Scotland Jack Fotheringham		Kimberley
10th 1912Scotland George Fotheringham (4)30510 strokesScotland Laurie WatersPotchefstroom
9th 1911Scotland George Fotheringham (3)30111 strokesScotland David GuthrieDurban
8th 1910Scotland George Fotheringham (2)3155 strokesEngland Arthur GrayRoyal Cape
7th 1909Scotland Jack Fotheringham3062 strokesScotland George FotheringhamPotchefstroom
6th 1908Scotland George Fotheringham2949 strokesScotland Laurie WatersPort Elizabeth
5th 1907Scotland Laurie Waters (3)147[r]5 strokesScotland Walter Day JrKimberley
4th 1906England Arthur Gray (2)1513 strokesH. F. Watson (a)East London
3rd 1905England Arthur GrayPlayoff[s]Scotland George FotheringhamGarrison Club
2nd 1904Scotland Laurie Waters (2)1434 strokesEngland Arthur GrayJohannesburg
1st 1903Scotland Laurie Waters1633 strokesJ. W. StewartPort Elizabeth
Close

Source:[1][32]

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    AFR − Sunshine Tour; ASA − Asian Tour; EUR − European Tour.
  2. [b]
    (a) – Amateur
  3. [c]
    Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
  4. [d]
    Due to impending COVID-19 related travel restrictions in and out of South Africa affecting the makeup of the field, the event was removed from the European Tour schedule. It proceeded as a sole-sanctioned Sunshine Tour event.[7]
  5. [e]
    Storm won with a par on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  6. [f]
    Sullivan won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  7. [g]
    Unofficial scoring record as 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.
  8. [h]
    Ramsay won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  9. [i]
    Sterne won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  10. [j]
    Immelman won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  11. [k]
    McNulty won on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  12. [l]
    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.
  13. [m]
    Hayes won following an 18-hole playoff; Hayes 69, Fourie 72.
  14. [n]
    Henning won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 144 to Guthrie's 146.
  15. [o]
    Boyd won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 162 to Hayes 163.
  16. [p]
    Janks won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 147 to Guthrie's 153.
  17. [q]
    Olander won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 146 to Robertson's 151.
  18. [r]
    Some sources have Waters score as 146.
  19. [s]
    Gray won the playoff by a stroke with a score of 151.

References

External links

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