Sterne named Golfer of the Year

Sport

Sterne named Golfer of the Year
Brad Morgan

20 February 2008

Richard Sterne's superb performances in 2007, which lifted him into the top 50 in the world rankings, saw him crowned Golfer of the Year at the Compleat Golfer's annual South African Golf Awards dinner on Monday evening.

Sterne finished 2007 ranked 14th on the European Tour's Order of Merit.

During the course of the season, he won the Celtic Manor Wales Open and claimed top-five finishes at the Johnnie Walker Classic, Volvo China Open, BMW Asian Open, BMW PGA Championship, and the Barclays Scottish Open.

Sunshine Tour success
Sterne added another win on the Sunshine Tour when he defeated Louis Oosthuizen in a playoff to claim the Vodacom Championship and, despite playing only five events, he finished fifth on the Order of Merit.

He started 2008 strongly, too, winning the Joburg Open in January, an event which is co-sanctioned by the European and Sunshine Tours.

Sterne began 2007 ranked outside the top 200 in the world. According to the latest official world golf rankings, he is in 29th place! That makes him one of six South Africans inside the top 50 - behind Ernie Els, Rory Sabbatini, and Trevor Immelman, but ahead of Retief Goosen and Tim Clark.

Order of Merit winner
James Kingston won the Sunshine Tour's Sid Brews Trophy for the leader of the Order of Merit. He pocketed just short of R2-million in 10 events, including a fantastic victory in December at the SAA Open, the second oldest national Open in the world.

More recently, on 17 February, Kingston won the Vodacom Championship at the Pretoria Country Club for a pay day worth R380 400. He was second in the event preceding that, finishing runner-up to James Kamte at the Dimension Data Pro-Am.

Gary Player Trophy
Louis Oosthuizen was awarded the Gary Player Trophy for the stroke averages' leader. He enjoyed an outstanding season on the Sunshine Tour in 2007, winning three times, at the Dimension Data Pro-Am, the Telkom PGA Championship, and the Platinum Classic.

His consistently good results left him second on the Order of Merit behind Kingston, which marked the second year in succession that he had finished as runner-up.

England's Ross McGowan won the Bobby Locke Trophy for Rookie of the Year. A fifth place finish at the Alfred Dunhill Championship highlighted his campaign in which he finished 13th on the Order of Merit from six events.

John Bland honoured
John Bland's fine career was recognised when he picked up the Contribution to the Sunshine Tour Award.

Between 1970 and 1991, he recorded 23 wins on the Tour, including in the South African PGA Championship in 1977 and the Benson and Hedges International Open in 1983.

When he joined the Seniors Tour in the USA in 1996, Bland made a huge impact, winning four events on his way to claiming Champions Tour Rookie of the Year honours.

The SA Junior Golf Foundation (SAJGF) received the award for Contribution to Golf.

Junior world champion
Dylan Fritelli was named SAJGF Junior Golfer of the Year, which was not surprising after he won the 15-17 age group at the Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championship.

The Women's Golf South Africa Lady Amateur of the Year went to a player who is no longer in the unpaid ranks. As an amateur she achieved consistent success against the pros and now she is making her mark in the paid world: Ashleigh Simon.

She showed her decision to turn professional was a good one when she became the youngest ever professional winner on the Ladies European Tour, capturing the Catalonia Ladies Masters at age 18 years and 37 days, in only her fourth event as a pro.

Top amateur
Louis de Jager was an easy choice for the South African Golf Association's Men's Amateur of the Year Award.

During 2007 he did the SA amateur double by winning the national stroke play and amateur titles, as well as the Gauteng North and Boland Opens. In 12 events, he finished in the top 10 eight times, and never outside the top 20.

Global sports' management company IMG, which represents, among others, Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen, and Trevor Immelman, recognised De Jager's outstanding potential by getting him to sign for IMG.

AWARD WINNERS

Sunshine Tour Award Winners

Sid Brews Trophy for the Leader of the Order of Merit
James Kingston

Bobby Locke Trophy for Rookie of the Year
Ross McGowan

Gary Player Trophy for the Stroke Average Leader
Louis Oosthuizen

Compleat Golfer Magazine Awards

5-Star Golf Experience Awards
Arabella Country Club, Atlantic Beach Country Club, Blair Athol Golf Estate, Country Club Johannesburg, De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, Eagle Canyon Country Club, Erinvale Golf Club, Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate, Leopard Creek, Pearl Valley Golf Estate, Pecanwood, Pezula, Pinnacle Point, Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, Steenberg Golf Club, St Francis Links, Sun City and Zimbali.

Club Manager of the Year
Paul Leishman - Glendower

Greenkeeper of the Year
Graham Corbett - Royal Jhb and Kensington

Golfer of the Year
Richard Sterne

Contribution to the Sunshine Tour
John Bland

Contribution to Golf
SA Junior Golf Foundation

PGA OF SA Awards

Compleat Golfer PGA Club Pro Champion
Ashleigh Roestoff

Apprentice of the Year
Colin Sorour

Club Professional of the Year
Roy Yates

Teaching Professional of the Year
Derek James

Special Service Award
Graham Webster

Leader of the Order of Merit
Michael Du Toit