1977–78 Southern Africa Tour

Golf tour season September 2023 1977–78 Southern Africa Tour 1977 10 19 y – 1977 12 3 y 6 ZAF 1928 John Bland (3) Order of Merit ZAF 1928 John Bland 1976–77 1978–79 The 1977–78 Southern Africa Tour was the seventh season of the Southern Africa Tour, the main professional golf tour in South Africa since it was formed in 1971. Season outline The season was dominated by John Bland and Gary Player. Bland won the first two events however Player won the consecutive events in the middle of the season to close in on Order of Merit honors. Bland, however, won the final event, the Holiday Inns Invitational, to capture the Order of Merit. The season was dominated by John Bland and Gary Player. Bland won the first two events however Player won the consecutive events in the middle of the season to close in on Order of Merit honors. Bland, however, won the final event, the Holiday Inns Invitational, to capture the Order of Merit. South African John Bland had much success at the beginning of the season. He won the first event of the year, the Lexington PGA Championship, by two shots over joint runner-up Player.Seven-shot victory for Pate https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5-Y9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=i0gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3313%2C5212554 12 September 2023 The Glasgow Herald Glasgow, United Kingdom 24 October 1977 21 John Bland won the South African PGA Championship on Saturday with a five-under-par total of 275. Google News Archive The following week, he also won the Victoria Falls Classic.Dunbarton double https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7eY9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=i0gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2005%2C6957992 12 September 2023 The Glasgow Herald Glasgow, United Kingdom 31 October 1977 21 John Bland brushed off a late challenge by fellow South African, John Fourie, to win the £34,000 Victoria Falls golf classic by three strokes with 283. Google News Archive Later in the season, Player had much success. In November, he played the Yellow Pages South African Open which held at Royal Johannesburg Golf Club. He shot a course-record 63 in the third round which helped him take a three shot lead over Dale Hayes.12 November 1977 Player takes lead with 63 27 The Daily Telegraph London, United Kingdom https://www.newspapers.com/image/750608541/ subscription 12 September 2023 Newspapers.com He went on to defeat Hayes and Bobby Cole by the same margin.Undefeated champions https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TI9AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4qQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2493%2C3432911 12 September 2023 The Glasgow Herald Glasgow, United Kingdom 14 November 1977 30 (29 in paper) Gary Player won his eleventh South African open title in Johannesburg on Saturday... Google News Archive He also won the ICL International the following week. Bland, however, won the final event, the Holiday Inns Invitational.1977 Holiday Inns Invitational https://sunshinetour.info/tic/tmresult.cgi?tourn=RSWC~result=PF~dc=N~cardlink=Y~~season=178S~style=00~groupties=Y~pr=N~textout=N~bordersize=1~fontsize=*~winfocus=Y~ 2023-09-12 Sunshine Tour This helped him secure the Order of Merit title over Player. Schedule The following table lists official events during the 1977–78 season.https://sunshinetour.info/tic/tmtic.cgi?ticformat=4~archives=y~season=178S~style=00~groupties=Y~pr=N~textout=N~bordersize=1~fontsize=*~winfocus=Y~ 1977/78 Tournament schedule Sunshine Tour 12 September 2023World of Golf 1978 George Simms Queen Anne Press 1978 0354090356 https://archive.org/details/bwb_KR-508-425/mode/1up Archive.org 132–135 24 November 2023 DateTournamentLocationPurse(R)Winnertotals 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.Notes 22 Oct Lexington PGA Championship Transvaal 50,000 ZAF 1928 John Bland (1) 29 Oct Victoria Falls Classic Rhodesia 50,000 ZAF 1928 John Bland (2) New to Southern Africa Tour 6 Nov Rhodesian Dunlop Masters Rhodesia Rh$14,000 ZAF 1928 Allan Henning (6) 12 Nov Yellow Pages South African Open Transvaal 40,000 ZAF 1928 Gary Player (13) 19 Nov ICL International Transvaal 25,000 ZAF 1928 Gary Player (14) 3 Dec Holiday Inns Invitational Swaziland 20,000 ZAF 1928 John Bland (3) Order of Merit The Order of Merit was based on prize money won during the season, calculated in South African rand.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/42387099/ Bland earns World Series spot The Akron Beacon Journal Akron, Ohio 6 February 1978 12 September 2023 23 Bland, 32, won three of six events on the South African tour, earning $25,170. He edged Gary Player, who finished with $21,450. Newspapers.com PositionPlayerPrize money (R)1 ZAF 1928 John Bland 25,1712 ZAF 1928 Gary Player 21,4503 ZAF 1928 Bobby Cole 18,1504 ZAF 1928 John Fourie 11,4805 ZAF 1928 Dale Hayes 11,399 Notes References External links http://sunshinetour.com/ Category:Sunshine Tour seasons Southern Africa Tour Southern Africa Tour Southern Africa Tour Southern Africa Tour