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 According to The Guardian, South Africa's Tienie Britz was "the season's most successful player" though England's Peter Oosterhuis often contended. At the inaugural event, the Luyt Lager PGA Championship, Britz, Oosterhuis, and Rhodesia's Don Gammon finished regulation tied at 280. Britz won the 18-hole playoff, scoring a 67 against Oosterhuis' 70 and Gammon's 71. At the third tournament, the Schoeman Park Open, Oosterhuis was "well placed to win," possessing a three shot lead entering the final round. He shot over-par in the final round though still finished second. The following week, meanwhile, Oosterhuis finally triumphed, defeating Britz by two shots at the Rhodesian Dunlop Masters.
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. At the following week's Dunlop South African Masters, Player continued with success, shooting a 267 aggregate to win by three. 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. However, Henning outplayed Player by two over the final round; Player finished solo runner-up. 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. In the third round, however, Player "hit top form" with a 66 to stay on "Henning's heels," one back. Henning then "slipped back" with a final round 72 allowing Player to pass him. Player won the event for the 8th time.
Peter Oosterhuis bookended the season with success contending at the final two tournaments. At the penultimate event, the Holiday Inns Open, he scored a third round 67 (−4) to tie for the lead. Oosterhuis "slipped back" in the final round, only matching par, though still finished in the top five. At the final event, meanwhile, Oosterhuis managed to secure victory, defeating Hugh Baiocchi in a playoff at the Glen Anil Classic. The victory also helped him ensure a top five finish on the Order of Merit. Tienie Britz, meanwhile, managed to shoot a final round 68 to finish in the top ten. This helped him win the Order of Merit by a small margin.
Schedule The following table lists official events during the 1971–72 season.
DateTournamentLocationPurse(R)WinnerNotes 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 The following events were sanctioned by the Southern Africa Tour, but did not carry official money, nor were wins official.
DateTournamentLocationPurse(R)WinnersNotes26 FebEllerines Team ChampionshipTransvaal10,000 Graham Henning and Harold HenningNew team event
Order of Merit The Order of Merit was based on tournament results during the season, calculated using a points-based system.
PositionPlayerPoints1 Tienie Britz 1,6042 John Bland 1,5783 Hugh Baiocchi 1,5714 Harold Henning 1,5485 Peter Oosterhuis 1,498
Notes
References
External links