M
MIND / SUNSHINE TOUR
History of 59s in SA Competitive and social, official and unofficial. By Stuart McLean
S hooting 59 (or lower) is an ambitious achievement which has become more attainable in recent years for tour professionals. Already, in 2024, there have been five 59s, a 58 and a 57 on the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour and LIV Golf League. One of those 59s was by 19-year-old South African Aldrich Potgieter in Colombia. There was nearly an eighth recent- ly from Shaun Norris in the 54-hole SunBet Challenge at Wild Coast Sun. It would have been only the third “official” 59 in the history of the Sun- shine Tour, which is a surprising fact
considering the opportunities there are every year. Norris, who has had more 59s than any golfer in South Africa, signed for 60 at Wild Coast, having walked up the uphill 18th needing a birdie three for 59. But missing the fairway with his tee shot meant the magic number eluded him. The 42-year-old would have been the first to shoot 59 there. (Jean Hugo had a 60 in 2019, and failed to birdie both 18 and the par-5 16th.) “Improved technology has made it easier today for tour pros to break the 60 barrier,” says Norris, who says he has had five 59s in social games at his home
course of Silver Lakes in Gauteng North. “With Wild Coast being par 70 and 5 800 metres long it’s remarkable that no one has yet shot 59 in a tournament, especially as the Sunshine Tour goes there every year. But then again the course is still a good championship test, and we don’t often play there on a calm day. Plus, the greens are no longer of a high standard.” Norris had a remarkable run of scores from 4 to 14, playing those 11 holes in 33 shots. “My hot streak ended when I missed a birdie putt at 15, but I then birdied the next two holes to set myself up at the last for a 59. But once I missed the fairway I knew I couldn’t get it close to that day’s front pin. I’ve now had
three 60s in tournaments and this one came after I made bogey at No 2.” Norris is a rarity among South Africans in having three tours on which to play. He won his first DP World Tour title at Steyn City in 2022, and has five wins in Japan, where he usually bases himself between August and November. The first Sunshine Tour 59 was by Peter Karmis in June 2009, and that was in Swaziland where he had 3 eagles and 7 birdies in the final round. He won the Lombard Insurance Classic that week, shooting 28 on the back nine at Royal Swazi Spa, and Karmis has the distinc- tion of being one of a few golfers in the world to close with a 59 and win. That’s only happened twice on the PGA Tour.
Peter Karmis was first Mr 59 on the Sunshine Tour. Above: His scorecard at Royal Swazi Spa.
26 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024
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