Bekker cleans up at Sunshine Tour awards

18 March 2018 – Oliver Bekker took home five awards, including the prestigious Commissioner’s Award at the Maslow Hotel where the Sunshine Tour and Golf RSA held their awards ceremony on Sunday.

Bekker, who won three times during the 2017-18 Sunshine Tour season, was recognised for his overall contribution to golf on the Tour in the citation for the Commissioner’s Award.

He was also honoured by his fellow professionals in winning the Players’ Player of the Year award, and by the golfing media when he took the Media Player of the Year award.

He also won the Gary Player Trophy for the best stroke average of players who played in 60 percent or more of the Sunshine Tour tournaments during the season. He averaged 70.21 over 71 rounds of tournament golf.

His fifth award was for his feats on the par-fives during the season, where he averaged 1.97 under par throughout his 24-tournament campaign.

The ceremony also saw Irishman Neil O’Briain being named the Rookie of the year to win the Bobby Locke Trophy, beating Zack Byrd of the United States in a race which went right down to the wire during the last event of the season.

Sunshine Tour Commissioner Selwyn Nathan said, “It’s always good to celebrate excellence, and we’ve had another good year on the Sunshine Tour. The commitment of the players is something which sets the Sunshine Tour apart, and it’s one of the reasons we consistently produce players who shine on the world stage. The season which has just ended reinforces that.

“We’re able to do what we do because of long-standing and fruitful relationships with our partners and sponsors. Without them, the success we are celebrating would not be possible, so excellence seems to be the least we can do to repay them.

“We also believe that if the season just finished was successful, things will get even better as we kick off the new season.”

SUNSHINE TOUR WINNERS:

George Coetzee: Sid Brews Trophy – Sunshine Tour Order of Merit

Oliver Bekker: Gary Player Trophy – Stroke Average winner

Neil O’Briain: Bobby Locke Trophy – Rookie of the Year

Oliver Bekker: Commissioner’s Award

Oliver Bekker: Players’ Player of the Year

Oliver Bekker: Media Player of the Year

Kyle McClatchie: Newcomer of the Year

Gary Player Class Awards: 1st, Keenan Davidse; 2nd Makhetha Mazibuko; 3rd Toto Thimba Jnr

Oliver Bekker: Par-fives

Peter Karmis: Par-fours

Louis de Jager: Par-threes

Sunshine Ladies Tour:

Stacy Bregman: Order of Merit

Sunshine Big Easy Tour:

Jacquin Hess: Order of Merit

Jacquin Hess: Malcolm Dreyer Stroke Average Award