1971–72 Southern Africa Tour
| Duration | 24 November 1971 – 4 March 1972 |
|---|---|
| Number of official events | 13 |
| Most wins |  Gary Player (3) |
| Order of Merit | Tienie Britz |
1972–73 → | |
The 1971–72 Southern Africa Tour was the inaugural season of the Southern Africa Tour, the main professional golf tour in South Africa since it was formed in 1971.
Season outline
[edit]According to The Guardian, South Africa's Tienie Britz was "the season's most successful player" though England's Peter Oosterhuis often contended.[1] At the inaugural event, the Luyt Lager PGA Championship, Britz, Oosterhuis, and Rhodesia's Don Gammon finished regulation tied at 280.[2] Britz won the 18-hole playoff, scoring a 67 against Oosterhuis' 70 and Gammon's 71.[3] At the third tournament, the Schoeman Park Open, Oosterhuis was "well placed to win," possessing a three shot lead entering the final round.[4] He shot over-par in the final round though still finished second.[5] The following week, meanwhile, Oosterhuis finally triumphed, defeating Britz by two shots at the Rhodesian Dunlop Masters.[6]
The middle of the season belonged to legend Gary Player though Harold Henning often challenged him. At the Western Province Open, playing against "windy conditions," Player managed to secure an even-par final round to win by four.[7] At the following week's Dunlop South African Masters, Player continued with success, shooting a 267 aggregate to win by three.[8] The following month, at the General Motors International Classic, again playing against "windy conditions," Player "pulled up into second place" with a two-under-par 72, two back of leader Harold Henning.[9] However, Henning outplayed Player by two over the final round; Player finished solo runner-up.[9] The subsequent week was the flagship event, South African Open. Henning again played well, opening with a seven-under-par 66 to tie for the lead.[10] In the third round, however, Player "hit top form" with a 66 to stay on "Henning's heels," one back.[11] Henning then "slipped back" with a final round 72 allowing Player to pass him.[12] Player won the event for the 8th time.[13]
Peter Oosterhuis bookended the season with success contending at the final two tournaments. At the penultimate event Holiday Inns Open he scored a third round 67 (−4) to tie for the lead.[14] Oosterhuis "slipped back" in the final round, only matching par, though still finished in the top five.[15] At the final event, however, Oosterhuis managed to secure victory, defeating Hugh Baiocchi in a playoff at the Glen Anil Classic.[16] The victory also helped him ensure a top five finish on the Order of Merit.[17] Tienie Britz, meanwhile, managed to shoot a final round 68 to finish in the top ten.[16] This helped him win the Order of Merit by a small margin.[17]
Schedule
[edit]The following table lists official events during the 1971–72 season.[17]
| Date | Tournament | Location | Purse (R) |
Winner[a] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Nov | Luyt Lager PGA Championship | Transvaal | 25,000 | Tienie Britz (1) |
|
| 4 Dec | Bert Hagerman Invitational | Transvaal | 10,000 | Dale Hayes (1) |
New tournament |
| 11 Dec | Schoeman Park Open | Orange Free State | 10,000 | Terry Westbrook (1) |
|
| 19 Dec | Rhodesian Dunlop Masters | Rhodesia | Rh$10,000 |  Peter Oosterhuis (1) |
|
| 1 Jan | State Mines Open | Transvaal | 5,000 | John Fourie (1) |
New tournament |
| 8 Jan | ICL Transvaal Open | Transvaal | 10,000 | Bobby Cole (1) |
|
| 15 Jan | NCR Western Province Open | Cape | 12,000 | Gary Player (1) |
|
| 22 Jan | Dunlop South African Masters | Transvaal | 10,000 | Gary Player (2) |
|
| 29 Jan | Natal Open | Natal | 10,000 | Tienie Britz (2) |
|
| 5 Feb | General Motors International Classic | Cape | 15,000 | Harold Henning (1) |
|
| 12 Feb | South African Open | Transvaal | 15,000 | Gary Player (3) |
|
| 19 Feb | Holiday Inns Open | Swaziland | 10,000 |  John Buczek (1) |
|
| 4 Mar | Glen Anil Classic | Transvaal | 10,000 | Peter Oosterhuis (2) |
New tournament |
Unofficial events
[edit]The following events were sanctioned by the Southern Africa Tour, but did not carry official money, nor were wins official.
| Date | Tournament | Location | Purse (R) |
Winners | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Feb | Ellerines Team Championship | Transvaal | 10,000 | Graham Henning and Harold Henning
|
New team event |
Order of Merit
[edit]The Order of Merit was based on tournament results during the season, calculated using a points-based system.[17]
| Position | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tienie Britz |
1,604 |
| 2 | John Bland |
1,578 |
| 3 | Hugh Baiocchi |
1,571 |
| 4 | Harold Henning |
1,548 |
| 5 | Peter Oosterhuis |
1,498 |
Notes
[edit]- ^ The number in brackets after each winner's name is the number of Southern Africa Tour events they had won up to and including that tournament. This information is only shown for Southern Africa Tour members.
References
[edit]- ^ Ward-Thomas, Pat (18 February 1972). "Barnes takes up the chase". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. p. 23. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Oosterhuis in play-off". Evening Post. Nottingham, United Kingdom. 29 November 1971. p. 14. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Oosterhuis beaten". Western Daily Press. Bristol, United Kingdom. 30 November 1971. p. 9. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Oosterhuis well placed to win". South Wales Argus. Newport, United Kingdom. 11 December 1971. p. 9. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Oosterhuis slips". Lancashire Telegraph. Blackburn, United Kingdom. 13 December 1971. p. 14. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Title for Oosterhuis". Evening Post. Nottingham, United Kingdom. 20 December 1971. p. 14. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gary Player wins by four strokes". Evening Post. Nottingham, United Kingdom. 17 January 1972. p. 14. Retrieved 3 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Player keeps title". Northern Echo. Darlington, United Kingdom. 24 January 1972. p. 15. Retrieved 3 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Gary Player on Henning's heels". Northern Echo. Darlington, United Kingdom. 5 February 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Henning, LeGrange Share Golf Lead". Fort Worth Star-Telegraph. Fort Worth, Texas. 10 February 1972. p. 37. Retrieved 3 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gary Player on Henning's heels". Northern Echo. Darlington, United Kingdom. 12 February 1972. p. 16. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Open win for Player". Sunday Sun. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. 13 February 1972. p. 26. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Williams, Michael (15 February 1972). "Humpreys shows Britons the way in South Africa". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. p. 25. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Peter's 67 brings a share of the lead". The Birmingham Post. 19 February 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "British golf pair slip". Coventry Evening Telegraph. Coventry, United Kingdom. 21 February 1972. p. 13. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Oosterhuis Wins After Play-off". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 6 March 1972. p. 27. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Simms, George (1973). John Player Golf Yearbook 1973. Queen Anne Press. pp. 44–59. ISBN 0362001278.