The 1987–88 Southern Africa Tour was the 17th season of the Southern Africa Tour, the main professional golf tour in South Africa since it was formed in 1971.
| Duration | 11 November 1987 – 12 February 1988 |
|---|---|
| Number of official events | 14 |
| Most wins |  Tony Johnstone (3) |
| Order of Merit |  John Bland |
← 1986–87 1988–89 → | |
Season outline
editLocal golfers from Zimbabwe and South African had success at the beginning of the season. At the first event, the Minolta Copiers Match Play, Zimbabwe's Tony Johnstone defeated countryman Mark McNulty 66 to 69 in the medal match play final to claim victory.[1] At the second tournament of the season, the Protea Assurance Classic, South Africa's Bobby Lincoln defeated compatriot Fulton Allem by one shot.[2] The following week, Johnstone won for the second time, producing a victory at the Protea Assurance Challenge.[3] The fourth event, Safmarine South African Masters, was won by South Africa's David Frost.[4] South Africa's John Bland was the champion the following week at the Goodyear Classic.[5] Allem won the fifth event of the season, the Palabora Classic.[6] The following week, at the ICL International, defending champion Johnstone was victorious again.[7]
A number of overseas golfers had much success during the middle of the season. At the eighth tournament of the season, the Lexington PGA Championship, Northern Irishman David Feherty won, defeating fellow Irishman Eamonn Darcy by one shot.[8] Darcy was the "tournament favourite" at the following event, the Southern Suns South African Open. He was in good position entering the final round, in third place, but was late to his tee time and was disqualified. Darcy's "absence took the pressure off" for South Africa's Wayne Westner, the overnight leader. With a final round 71, Westner won by two strokes over England's Ian Mosey.[9] South African Jeff Hawkes won the next event, the Bloemfontein Classic, defeating American Jay Townsend by one shot.[10] The following week was the Danglo Tournament Players Championship. The event was won by Englishman Mark James. It was first win in South Africa.[11] Late in the season, at the Helix Swazi Sun Classic, Americans Don Levin and Alan Pate were tied at the end of regulation. Levin defeated Pate at the first playoff hole.[12]
The Order of Merit race ultimately came down to Tony Johnstone and John Bland at the final event of the season, the Trustbank Tournament of Champions. Johnstone held a slight lead on the Order of Merit. Bland needed a top two finish at the event to defeat him. Bland opened with a 67 to take the joint lead. Johnstone also played well and was only one back.[13] Bland followed with a 66 to take the solo lead by two over Mark McNulty with Johnstone now in joint third, three back.[14] In the third round, Bland shot a 67 to extend his lead while Johnstone shot a 73 to fall out of contention.[15] Bland shot a final round 68 to secure the win. Johnstone finished in solo fourth place at the event. Bland's win secured the Order of Merit title.[16]
Schedule
editThe following table lists official events during the 1987–88 season.[17]
| Date | Tournament | Location | Purse (R) |
Winner[a] | OWGR points |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov | Minolta Copiers Match Play | Transvaal | 175,000 | Tony Johnstone (6) |
12 | New tournament |
| 21 Nov | Protea Assurance Classic | Transvaal | 250,000 | Bobby Lincoln (1) |
12 | New tournament |
| 27 Nov | Protea Assurance Challenge | Cape | 150,000 | Tony Johnstone (7) |
12 | |
| 12 Dec | Safmarine South African Masters | Cape | 175,000 | David Frost (3) |
10 | |
| 20 Dec | Goodyear Classic | Transvaal | 150,000 | John Bland (10) |
10 | |
| 9 Jan | Palabora Classic | Transvaal | 200,000 | Fulton Allem (5) |
8 | |
| 16 Jan | ICL International | Transvaal | 200,000 | Tony Johnstone (8) |
8 | |
| 23 Jan | Lexington PGA Championship | Transvaal | 200,000 |  David Feherty (2) |
8 | |
| 31 Jan | Southern Suns South African Open | Natal | 150,000 | Wayne Westner (2) |
16 | |
| 13 Feb | Bloemfontein Classic | Orange Free State | 200,000 | Jeff Hawkes (1) |
10 | New tournament |
| 20 Feb | Danglo Tournament Players Championship | Transvaal | 250,000 |  Mark James (n/a) |
10 | New tournament |
| 27 Feb | AECI Charity Classic | Transvaal | 150,000 | Bobby Lincoln (2) |
10 | |
| 6 Mar | Helix Swazi Sun Classic | Swaziland | 150,000 |  Don Levin (1) |
8 | |
| 12 Mar | Trustbank Tournament of Champions | Transvaal | 200,000 | John Bland (11) |
8 | Tour Championship |
Unofficial events
editThe following events were sanctioned by the Southern Africa Tour, but did not carry official money, nor were wins official.
| Date | Tournament | Location | Purse (R) |
Winner | OWGR points |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Dec | Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge | Transvaal | US$1,000,000 |  Ian Woosnam
|
22 | Limited-field event |
Order of Merit
editThe Order of Merit was based on prize money won during the season, calculated in South African rand.[18][19]
| Position | Player | Prize money (R) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Bland |
143,301 |
| 2 | Tony Johnstone |
139,132 |
| 3 | Fulton Allem |
95,273 |
| 4 | Hugh Baiocchi |
52,643 |
| 5 | David Feherty |
87,519 |
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- ^ "McNulty gets shock". Sunday Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 15 November 1987. p. 45. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Feherty slips to third place". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 23 November 1987. p. 37. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Evans claims best prize". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 28 November 1987. p. 29. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Frost holds on after fine 65 by Durnian". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 14 December 1987. p. 23. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bland's birdies end his three-year wait". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 21 December 1987. p. 19. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Allem clinches it". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 11 January 1988. p. 22. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ McLean, Bill (17 January 1988). "Drama on final green". Sunday Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. p. 43. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ McLean, Bill (25 January 1988). "Feherty wins by a stroke". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. p. 34. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ramsey, Shane (1 February 1988). "Greg fires up for new assault". Daily Post (3 a.m. ed.). Liverpool, United Kingdom. p. 24. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ McLean, Bill (15 February 1988). "Hawkes keeps cool to take first title". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. p. 34. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mark's thrilling finale pays off". Sunday Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 21 February 1988. p. 45. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Levin pips Pate". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 8 March 1988. p. 27. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ McLean, Bill (10 March 1988). "Bland converts his chances". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ McLean, Bill (11 March 1988). "Bland keeps McNulty covered". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ McLean, Bill (12 March 1988). "Bland leads but Jonas is a danger". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ McLean, Bill (15 March 1988). "Bland has 68 to go top of money list". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. p. 35. Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1987/88 Tournament schedule". Sunshine Tour. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ Berkovitz, Anton; Samson, Andrew (1993). South Africa and international sports factfinder. D. Nelson. p. 96. ISBN 1868061019. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Bland has 68 to go top of money list". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 15 March 1988. p. 35. Retrieved 3 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.