1990–91 Southern Africa Tour Explained

Year:1990–91
Tour:Southern Africa Tour
Regular Season:
No Of Events:12
Most Wins: John Bland (5)
Honor1:Order of Merit
Honoree1: John Bland
Prevseason:1989–90
Nextseason:1991–92

The 1990–91 Southern Africa Tour was the 20th season of the Southern Africa Tour, the main professional golf tour in South Africa since it was formed in 1971.

Season outline

The early half of the season was dominated by John Bland and Fulton Allem who alternated between wins for the first six events. The first event of the season was a medal match play event, the Minolta Copiers Match Play, with Bland victorious.[1] Allem won the next event, the Twee Jonge Gezellen Masters with Bland finishing solo third.[2] At the following event, the Bloemfontein Classic, Bland was victorious.[3] Allem returned the favor the following week when he won the Goodyear Classic by two shots from Bland.[4] Bland won the first event after the Christmas break, the Palabora Classic.[5] Allem then won the next tournament, the ICL International.[6]

A variety of golfers played well in the second half of the season, especially South Africans Roger Wessels, Bland and Wayne Westner, as well as American Hugh Royer III and Englishman Mark James. At the seventh event of the year, the Lexington PGA Championship, Royer, James and Wessels were tied at the end of regulation. There was a sudden-death playoff. Royer and James bogeyed the first and second holes of the playoff, respectively, to give Wessels the win.[7] Westner won the next event, the Protea Assurance South African Open, by four shots over James.[8] The following week, the AECI Charity Classic, Westner shot a final round 65 to secure another win.[9] Royer won the subsequent event, the Hollard Royal Swazi Sun Classic.[10] It was Bland, however, that bookended the year with success, winning the final two events, the Bell's Cup and the Trustbank Tournament of Champions.[11] [12]

Schedule

The following table lists official events during the 1990–91 season.[13] [14]

DateTournamentLocationPurse
(R)
WinnerOWGR
points
Notes
17 Nov Transvaal 280,000 John Bland (15) 8
24 Nov Cape 350,000 Fulton Allem (8) 8
15 Dec Orange Free State 280,000 John Bland (16) 8
22 Dec Cape 280,000 Fulton Allem (9) 8
12 Jan Transvaal 280,000 John Bland (17) 8
19 Jan Transvaal 280,000 Fulton Allem (10) 10
26 Jan Transvaal 280,000 Roger Wessels (1) 10
2 Feb Natal 350,000 Wayne Westner (3) 8
9 Feb Transvaal 280,000 Wayne Westner (4) 8
16 Feb Swaziland 280,000 Hugh Royer III (1) 8
23 Feb Cape 280,000 John Bland (18) 8 New tournament
2 Mar Transvaal 280,000 John Bland (19) 8 Tour Championship

Unofficial events

The following events were sanctioned by the Southern Africa Tour, but did not carry official money, nor were wins official.

Order of Merit

The Order of Merit was based on prize money won during the season, calculated in South African rand.[14]

PositionPlayerPrize money (R)
1 333,637
2 190,090
3 168,158
4 155,409
5 146,918

Notes and References

  1. News: Floyd and Couples in 'perfect' victory . The Daily Telegraph . Alex . Lancaster . London, United Kingdom . 19 November 1990 . 27 October 2023 . 42 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  2. News: Allem makes timely point . The Daily Telegraph . London, United Kingdom . 26 November 1990 . 27 October 2023 . 42 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  3. News: Faldo adjusts to pressure for winning finale . The Daily Telegraph . London, United Kingdom . 17 December 1990 . 27 October 2023 . 43 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  4. News: Rest of the news in sport Golf . Sunday Telegraph . London, United Kingdom . 23 December 1990 . 27 October 2023 . 23 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  5. News: Local knowledge pays off for Bland . The Daily Telegraph . Grant . Winter . London, United Kingdom . 14 January 1991 . 27 October 2023 . 39 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  6. News: Allem reaps his third harvest . The Daily Telegraph . London, United Kingdom . 21 January 1991 . 27 October 2023 . 38 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  7. News: Henke's 30-foot putt gives him victory . The Daily Telegraph . London, United Kingdom . Alex . Lancaster . 28 January 1991 . 27 October 2023 . 39 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  8. News: Azinger is back in first-prize form . The Daily Telegraph . London, United Kingdom . Alex . Lancaster . 4 February 1991 . 27 October 2023 . 38 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  9. News: Pavin beats O'Meara at first extra hole . The Daily Telegraph . London, United Kingdom . Alex . Lancaster . 11 February 1991 . 27 October 2023 . 38 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  10. News: Royer wins in South Africa . Ledger-Enquirer . Columbus, Georgia . 19 February 1991 . 27 October 2023 . 8 (B-2 in paper) . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  11. News: Sports round-up Golf . The Daily Telegraph . London, United Kingdom . 25 February 1991 . 27 October 2023 . 40 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  12. News: Sports round-up Golf . The Daily Telegraph . London, United Kingdom . 4 March 1991 . 27 October 2023 . 41 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  13. Web site: 1991 Tournament schedule . Sunshine Tour . 6 October 2023.
  14. Book: Wilson, Mark . The Royal & Ancient Golfer's Handbook 1992 . 1992 . Macmillan . 0333573765 . 90 . 23 December 2023 . Archive.org . limited.