The South African Masters was one of the most prestigious golf tournaments on the Sunshine Tour. It was last played in 2011. Before its discontinuation, it had a prize fund of 1.2 million rand and was held at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club on the KwaZulu-Natal border, South Africa.

Nashua Masters
Tournament information
LocationEastern Cape, South Africa
Established1923
Course(s)Wild Coast Sun Country Club
Par70
Length6,351 yards (5,807 m)
Tour(s)Sunshine Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundR 1,200,000
Month playedNovember
Final year2011
Tournament record score
Aggregate263 Darren Fichardt (2009)
To par−19 Desvonde Botes (1999)
Score12 and 11 Bobby Locke (1939)
12 and 11 Philip Ritson (1953)
Final champion
South Africa Shaun Norris
Location map
Wild Coast Sun CC is located in South Africa
Wild Coast Sun CC
Wild Coast Sun CC
Location in South Africa
Wild Coast Sun CC is located in Eastern Cape
Wild Coast Sun CC
Wild Coast Sun CC
Location in Eastern Cape

History

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The tournament had its roots in the South African Professional Match Play Championship, the running of which was taken over by the PGA of South Africa in 1957. Under the sponsorship of Dunlop the event transitioned into a 72-hole stroke play event in 1960.[1][2]

The first edition of the new Dunlop Masters, at Houghton Golf Club in 1960, was won by Gary Player with an aggregate score of 266, a record that stood for 44 years. Player's total was equalled in 1970 by John Fourie, the only amateur to claim the title. Andrew McLardy posted 264 at the Wild Coast resort in 2004 and Darren Fichardt holds the record of 263 set on the par-70 course in 2009.

The South African Masters, along with the South African Open and the South African PGA Championship formed the Triple Crown. Winning all three titles in the same season was a feat only achieved by Gary Player and Ernie Els.[3]

Winners

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Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Ref.
Nashua Masters
2011   Shaun Norris 271 −9 1 stroke   Tyrone Mordt
2010   Warren Abery (2) 267 −13 2 strokes   Oliver Bekker
  Branden Grace
  Alex Haindl
2009   Darren Fichardt 263 −17 1 stroke   Marc Cayeux
2008   Marc Cayeux 268 −12 2 strokes   Bradford Vaughan
2007   Jean Hugo 269 −11 Playoff   Titch Moore
2006   Warren Abery 265 −15 2 strokes   Doug McGuigan
2005   Richard Sterne 269 −11 1 stroke   Titch Moore
  Grant Muller
2004   Andrew McLardy 264 −16 3 strokes   Desvonde Botes
2003: No tournament
2002
(Nov)
  Hennie Otto 279 −1 1 stroke   Ciaran McMonagle
  Gavin McNeill
  Mark McNulty
  Roger Wessels
2002
(Feb)
  Justin Rose 265 −15 1 stroke   Titch Moore
Nashua Nedtel Cellular Masters
2001   Mark McNulty (5) 274 −6 1 stroke   Retief Goosen
  Des Terblanche
South African Masters
2000: No tournament
1999   Desvonde Botes 269 −19 1 stroke   Dean van Staden
1998: No tournament
San Lameer South African Masters
1997   Mark McNulty (4) 276 −12 4 strokes   Adilson da Silva
1996   Wayne Westner 280 −8 3 strokes   Patrick Moore
  Warren Schutte
  Chris Williams
Telkom South African Masters
1995   Scott Dunlap 279 −9 Playoff   Mark McNulty
1994   Chris Davison 281 −7 2 strokes   Bruce Vaughan
EVS South African Masters
1993   Tony Johnstone (2) 275 −13 1 stroke   Roger Wessels
1992   Ernie Els 275 −13 1 stroke   Chris Williams
1991: No tournament
Twee Jonge Gezellen Masters
1990   Fulton Allem 276 −12 2 strokes   Ian Palmer
1989   Hugh Baiocchi 281 −7 1 stroke   Tertius Claassens
  Ernie Els
  Rick Hartmann
[4]
Safmarine South African Masters
1988   John Bland 275 −13 3 strokes   Tony Johnstone [5]
1987   David Frost 273 −15 3 strokes   Denis Durnian [6]
1986   Mark McNulty (3) 270 −18 4 strokes   Fulton Allem [7]
1985   Mark McNulty (2) 278 −10 4 strokes   Fulton Allem
  Frank Edmonds
  David Frost
[8]
1984   Tony Johnstone 277 −11 1 stroke   Fulton Allem
1983: No tournament
SAB South African Masters
1982   Mark McNulty 275 −13 2 strokes   Denis Watson
1981   Nick Price 281 −7 4 strokes   Mark McNulty
1980: No tournament
1979   Gary Player (11) 270 −18 6 strokes   John O'Leary [9]
Kronenbrau Masters
1978   Dale Hayes 275 −13 Playoff   Tienie Britz [10]
1977: No tournament
Dunlop South African Masters
1976
(Nov)
  Gary Player (10) 270 −10 4 strokes   Hugh Baiocchi
  Simon Hobday
[11][12]
1976
(Feb)
  Gary Player (9) 268 −12 1 stroke   Cobie Legrange [13]
1975   John Fourie (2) 199[a] −11 1 stroke   Vin Baker
  Allan Henning
1974   Gary Player (8) 270 −10 Playoff   Bobby Cole [14][15]
1973: No tournament
1972
(Dec)
  Gary Player (7) 268 −12 1 stroke   Harold Henning [16][17]
1972
(Jan)
  Gary Player (6) 267 −17 3 strokes   Bobby Cole [18]
1971   Gary Player (5) 269 −11 2 strokes   Harold Henning
1970   John Fourie (a) 266 −14 6 strokes   Gary Player
1969   Bobby Cole 280 −16 6 strokes   Tienie Britz
  Bob Tuohy
[19][20]
1968   Allan Henning 278 6 strokes   Graham Henning
  Hugh Inggs
  Cobie Legrange
  Trevor Wilkes
  Terry Westbrook
1967   Gary Player (4) 279 2 strokes   Cobie Legrange
1966   Cedric Amm 276 4 strokes   Trevor Wilkes [21]
1965   Denis Hutchinson (3) 281  
1964   Gary Player (3) 285  
1963   Bruce Keyter 291 3 strokes   Hugh Inggs
  Eric Moore
  Terry Westbrook
[22]
1962   Denis Hutchinson (2) 280  
1961   Denis Hutchinson 276   Bob Charles
1960   Gary Player (2) 266 17 strokes   Retief Waltman
Dunlop South African Professional Match Play
1959   Gary Player 3 and 1   Harold Henning
1958   Dai Rees 3 and 2   Ken Bousfield
1957   John Jacobs 2 and 1   Gary Player
South African Professional Match Play Championship
1956   Ken Redford 2 and 1   Gary Player [23]
1955   Bobby Locke (7) 7 and 6   Brian Ellmore
1954   Jock Verwey (3) 11 and 9   AN Thomas
1953   Philip Ritson 12 and 11   AJ Bullock
1952   Sid Brews (6) 7 and 6   Philip Ritson
1951   Bobby Locke (6) 4 and 3   Harry Bradshaw
1950   Bobby Locke (5) 9 and 8   MS Hart
1949   Jock Verwey (2) 5 and 4   GS van Niekerk
1948   Jock Verwey 5 and 4   James Ockenden Jr.
1947   Sandy Guthrie 5 and 4   James Ockenden Jr.
1946   Bobby Locke (4) 10 and 9   Sid Brews
1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II
1940   Bobby Locke (3) 11 and 9   Bert Elkin
1939   Bobby Locke (2) 12 and 11   M Goldsmith
1938   Bobby Locke 4 and 3   Sid Brews
1937   John Robertson 37 holes   AN Thomas
1936   Sid Brews (5) 9 and 7   John Robertson
1935   J De Beer 5 and 4   G Brews
1934   Sid Brews (4) 6 and 4   Bert Elkin
1933   Sid Brews (3) 6 and 5   AN Thomas
1932   Charles McIlvenny (4) 6 and 5   Robert Grimsdell
1931   Charles McIlvenny (3) 10 and 9   Jock Brews
1930   Arthur Tomsett 37 holes   Charles McIlvenny
1929   Charles McIlvenny (2) 8 and 7   Robert Grimsdell
1928   Sid Brews (2) 2 and 1   Jock Brews
1927   Charles McIlvenny 3 and 1   Robert Grimsdell
1926   Sid Brews 11 and 10   G Brews
1925   Jock Brews (2) 3 and 2   Robert Grimsdell
1924   Jock Brews 4 and 2   Archie Tosh
1923   Bert Elkin 4 and 3   Jimmie Johnstone

Notes

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  1. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

References

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  1. ^ Vlismas, Michael (2012). The Extraordinary Book of South African Golf. Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN 978-0143529729.
  2. ^ The Golfer's Handbook. 1963. p. 255.
  3. ^ "History of the South African Masters sponsored by Nashua". Sunshine Tour. 30 January 2008. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  4. ^ "Hugh Baiocchi". The Daily Telegraph. 18 December 1989. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ McCormack, Mark H. (1989). Mark McCormack's World of Professional Golf 1989. Collins Willow. pp. 251, 475–476. ISBN 000218284X.
  6. ^ McCormack, Mark H. (1988). Ebel World of Professional Golf 1988. Collins Willow. pp. 230–231, 446. ISBN 0002182831.
  7. ^ McCormack, Mark H. (1987). Ebel World of Professional Golf 1987. Collins Willow. pp. 225–226, 451–452. ISBN 0002182572.
  8. ^ "Sports briefs from home and abroad | Golf". Glasgow Herald. Glasgow, Scotland. 16 December 1985. p. 11. Retrieved 9 December 2022 – via Google News Archive.
  9. ^ "IN BRIEF Player wins". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 4 December 1979. p. 19. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  10. ^ McCormack, Mark H. (1979). Dunhill Golf Yearbook 1979. Springwood Books. pp. 224, 375. ISBN 0385149409 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "Player wins tenth Masters". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 8 November 1976. p. 11. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Golf SOUTH AFRICAN MASTERS GOLF TITLE AT JOHANNESBURG". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 9 November 1976. p. 17. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  13. ^ "PLAYER'S TITLE BY A STROKE". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Player wins". The Glasgow Herald. 28 January 1974.
  15. ^ "GARY PLAYER WINS MASTERS". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 29 January 1974. p. 16. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  16. ^ "O'Leary deposes Player". The Herald. Glasgow. 2 December 1972.
  17. ^ "Golf - Johannesburg". The Times. 4 December 1972. p. 12.
  18. ^ "Player retains Masters' title". The Herald. Glasgow. 24 January 1972.
  19. ^ "Cole wins Masters". Retrieved 2 March 2021 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  20. ^ "Cole wins Masters tourney". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 28 January 1969. p. 15. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Third place to Jacklin". The Observer. 13 February 1966. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Masters Win To Keyter". The Canberra Times. Vol. 37, no. 10433. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 January 1963. p. 16. Retrieved 17 September 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "South African title". The Glasgow Herald. 6 April 1956. p. 4.
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