James Kingston Explained

James Kingston
Fullname:James Hubert Kingston
Birth Date:30 November 1965
Birth Place:Ottosdal, South Africa
Residence:Rustenburg, South Africa
Yearpro:1988
Tour:European Senior Tour
Extour:European Tour
Asian Tour
Sunshine Tour
Prowins:21
Eurowins:2
Asiawins:4
Sunwins:10
Seneurowins:3
Otherwins:3
Masters:DNP
Usopen:DNP
Open:T27: 2009
Pga:T55: 2008
Award1:Sunshine Tour
Order of Merit Winner
Year1:2007
Award2:European Senior Tour
Order of Merit Winner
Year2:2022

James Hubert Kingston (born 30 November 1965) is a South African professional golfer.

Career

Kingston was born in Ottosdal, South Africa. He turned professional in 1988, and is currently a member of the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour. He has also competed on the Asian Tour, where he collected four tournament victories.

In 2007, Kingston finished top of the Order of Merit on the Sunshine Tour, aided by his victory at the European Tour co-sanctioned South African Airways Open. That win was his first on the European Tour, and helped him to his best Order of Merit finish of 17th in 2008.

Victory at the Sunshine Tour's Vodacom Championship in February 2008, lifted Kingston into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time.

Kingston secured his first win of 2009 with a playoff triumph against Anders Hansen at the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.[1]

Professional wins (21)

European Tour wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
116 Dec 2007
(2008 season)
South African Airways Open1−4 (73-69-71-71=284)1 stroke Oliver Wilson
213 Sep 2009Mercedes-Benz Championship−13 (67-69-70-69=275)Playoff Anders Hansen
1Co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour

European Tour playoff record (1–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
12003Qatar Masters Darren FichardtLost to birdie on first extra hole
22009Mercedes-Benz Championship Anders HansenWon with par on first extra hole

Asian PGA Tour wins (4)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
115 Nov 1998Thailand Open−16 (69-64-69-70=272)Playoff Jeev Milkha Singh
22 May 1999Maekyung Daks Open1−11 (67-66-74-70=277)Playoff Kyi Hla Han
327 Feb 2000London Myanmar Open−19 (64-71-67-67=269)10 strokes Craig Kamps
428 May 2000Ericsson Classic−16 (67-66-71-68=272)5 strokes Andrew Pitts
1Co-sanctioned by the Korean Tour

Asian PGA Tour playoff record (2–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11998Thailand Open Jeev Milkha SinghWon with par on first extra hole
21999Maekyung Daks Open Kyi Hla HanWon with birdie on fourth extra hole

Sunshine Tour wins (10)

Legend
Flagship events (1)
Other Sunshine Tour (9)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
129 Jun 1995FNB Pro Series (Royal Swazi)−8 (70-68-70=208)1 stroke Kevin Stone
28 Nov 1995FNB Pro Series (2) (Namibia Open)−11 (64-70-68=202)1 stroke Michael du Toit
36 Jul 1996Bosveld Classic−7 (69-64-76=209)2 strokes Paul Friedlander, Mark Murless
428 Sep 2001Randfontein Classic−11 (67-72-66=205)Playoff André Cruse, Sean Ludgater
512 Oct 2001Atlantic Beach Classic−3 (72-69-72=213)7 strokes Wallie Coetsee, Justin Hobday
619 May 2002Royal Swazi Sun Classic−12 (70-70-64=204)1 stroke Keith Horne, Bobby Lincoln
716 Dec 2007South African Airways Open1−4 (73-69-71-71=284)1 stroke Oliver Wilson
817 Feb 2008Vodacom Championship−17 (71-67-68-65=271)2 strokes Adilson da Silva
920 Aug 2010Vodacom Origins of Golf at Selborne−13 (66-65-72=203)2 strokes Adilson da Silva
105 May 2013Investec Royal Swazi Open45 pts (10-9-17-9=45)Playoff Ruan de Smidt
1Co-sanctioned by the European Tour

Sunshine Tour playoff record (2–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
12001Randfontein Classic André Cruse, Sean Ludgater
22013Investec Royal Swazi Open Ruan de SmidtWon with par on second extra hole

Other wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
112 Sep 1992Lombard Tyres TVL Classic−12 (64-67-73=204)4 strokes John Fourie
222 Jul 1999Wild Coast Sun Pro-Am−12 (67-64-67=198)2 strokes Brett Liddle

European Senior Tour wins (3)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
15 Nov 2021Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open−11 (70-67-68=205)1 stroke Joakim Haeggman
210 Jul 2022Swiss Seniors Open−11 (68-63-68=199)3 strokes Phillip Price, David Shacklady
328 Oct 2023Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open (2)−16 (69-70-61=200)1 stroke Peter Baker, Adilson da Silva

Other senior wins (1)

Results in major championships

Tournament20022003200420052006200720082009
The Open ChampionshipCUTT57CUTT27
PGA ChampionshipT55
Note: Kingston never played in the Masters Tournament or the U.S. Open.
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament200820092010
Match Play
ChampionshipT70T20
Invitational78T63
ChampionsT33
"T" = Tied
Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kingston claims play-off victory. 2009-09-13. BBC Sport. 2009-09-14.