LEGENDS GOLF
New vision for Sunshine Legends Tour SA Senior Open returns to Plettenberg Bay in December.
burg. Both have maintained incredible longevity at the highest level, show- ing good form and claiming victories through their 40s. Hennie Otto, one of the characters of the Sunshine Tour, and SA Open champion in 2011 at Serengeti, turns 50 in June 2026. Former SA Open champion James Kingston, still a competitive force at the age of 60, a winner of 22 tournaments worldwide, will be hosting the SA Senior Open in Plettenberg Bay. “We’ve had
Senior professional golf in South Africa is building a new brand identity as the
The rebranding of the senior tour co- incides with several prominent Sunshine Tour stars having either just turned 50 in the past couple of years or being about to do so. Darren Fichardt turned 50 in May and has already made an impact on the Legends Tour in Europe, which con- cludes the year with the MCB Mauritius Championship at Constance Belle Mare Plage from December 5-7. Another former tour winner per- forming handsomely on that tour is
Sunshine Legends Tour. It has a new board and players committee, an official supply partner in Srixon, and a vision to create a sustainable and thriving circuit for those pros about to turn 50 and those already in the senior ranks. The tour has announced that the SA Senior Open hosted by James Kingston will be the first of its flagship events, at Plettenberg Bay Country Club from December 10 to 12. It’s heartening news to see the renewed elevation of this championship, which has gone through ups and downs over the years, some- thing which could also be said about the local senior tour. Ian Smith is the new commissioner of the Sunshine Legends Tour. He said the SA Senior Open, plus a 72-hole pro-am Winelands Classic tournament played in Robertson and Worcester in November, is the first step in a broad plan to rein- vigorate senior professional golf. “The Legends Tour is about legacy and heritage. It’s about celebrating golf- ers who were household names in this country, and who through their incred- ible achievements created the stories which have become a valuable part of the history of SA golf. It’s a proud mo- ment for us to launch this new era in the senior game, and we’re thankful to Srix- on South Africa for sharing our vision.”
the tournament there before, and it means a lot for the local commu- nity. That’s why I wanted to get involved in this one. The Country Club course is one of the most beautiful in the Garden Route. “Our new Sunshine Legends Tour repre- sents an exciting new
54-year-old Keith Horne – currently third on the 2025 Order of Merit, in- cluding a tournament win in China in July. He will be defending the SA Senior Open title at Plettenberg Bay CC. Ulrich van den Berg from Bryanston Country Club is a newcomer to the ranks this year, and
LAST 10 SA SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONS 2024 Keith Horne 2023 Wallie Coetsee 2021 James Kingston 2019 James Kingston 2018 Mark McNulty (2) 2016 Callie Swart 2015 Steve Williams 2014 Chris Williams 2013 Hendrik Buhrmann
era for the senior game, one worthy of paying tribute to all those players who have helped shape golf in South Africa,” he said. “It seems a lifetime ago that I turned pro. That was in 1989, and my first victory in Polokwane was worth R4 000.” Kingston is one of a handful of golfers to have won both the SA Open (Pearl Valley 2007) and SA Senior Open. Louise Cooper, Managing Director of Srixon SA, said she was thrilled to be teaming up with the Sunshine Legends Tour. “We’re looking forward to creating some magic, and proud to be supporting the Legends in any way we can.” – MICHAEL VLISMAS Woodhill Country Club greenkeeper Pieter Cooper became the new SA Senior Amateur champion, for the first time, winning the 54-hole tournament at Kyalami CC with a one-over total of 217 (70-76-71), two shots clear of Johan Krugel (Rustenburg), George Smith (Els Club), Lyall McNeill (Durban CC) and Eddie Antonie (Parkview).
quickly made an impact with a runaway victory in Angola in the Mangais Senior Classic, where he was 19-under-par for 72 holes. This followed a Betway Big Easy Tour victory at Dainfern, his first title in 10 years. Jean Hugo, a 20-time winner on the Sunshine Tour, turns 50 on December 3. He and Fichardt are unlikely to play in the SA Senior Open though, as it clashes with the Alfred Dunhill Champion- ship being played at Royal Johannes-
Keith Horne.
Ulrich van den Berg.
30 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
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