Burmester and Grace back for more Vodacom Origins glory

About Sunshine Tour

South Africa is one of the most prolific producers of world-class golfing talent in the world, and the Sunshine Tour has been integral to our nation’s success. The Tour has produced some of the most successful golfers on the PGA and DP World Tour both past and present, such as Gary Player, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Louis Oosthuizen, Trevor Immelman, Charl Schwartzel, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Erik Van Rooyen, and Garrick Higgo.

The Sunshine Tour has partnered with various organisations, brands, and stakeholders to create a platform for golfers from the southern African region and abroad to display their talent and become successful golfers on the global stage. These partners include the DP World Tour, Golf RSA, the South African Golf Development Board, the South African Golf Association, and the PGA of South Africa, with all these organisations contributing to the Sunshine Tour becoming one of the premier golf tours in the world.

In addition, hosting tournaments in the southern African region and visiting a variety of regions, climates, and courses helps stimulate economic growth and activity by involving local communities in varying capacities. These Sunshine Tour events have become highly anticipated both for players and golf fans. Of these events, none are more anticipated than the Joburg Open, the Investec SA Open Championship, and the Alfred Dunhill Championship; all are Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned events. These tournaments have seen some of the most well-known players in the world compete, including Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, and Henrik Stenson.

The Sunshine Tour’s mission statement is Greatness Begins Here. As it continues to grow, it provides a platform for more golfers to achieve their own greatness while asserting South Africa’s position as a vibrant and competitive golfing nation.

GEORGE, Western Cape – Dean Burmester and Branden Grace are both back on the Sunshine Tour this week, and back on a Vodacom Origins of Golf series that was an early catalyst for the successful international careers they’ve enjoyed.

The Sunshine Tour stars are part of a strong field that will tee off Thursday’s first round of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at Oubaai Golf Estate, wrapping up another season of the longest-running pro-am series on the Tour.

It’s a significant moment for both Burmester and Grace as they return to a series on which they both won early in their careers.

“For as long as I’ve been a professional, the Vodacom Origins of Golf series has been a very loyal supporter of our Sunshine Tour. I came through this series and was able to progress from there, and without the opportunities that this series presents none of the younger pros would be able to grow their careers from here as well. It’s a very special relationship, and I’m very happy to back here playing on it,” said Burmester, who won on this series in 2015 before going on to become a multiple DP World Tour champion.

“I’d love to win another one, and that’s why I’m here. I know this golf course and it’s in great condition, so it was an easy decision.”

Grace has equally fond memories of this series with his victory in the Final in 2012, and which led to a career that saw him become a nine-time winner on the DP World Tour and two-time champion on the PGA Tour.

“The Vodacom Origins of Golf is such a big part of South African golf. It played a major part in my career early on, with that win opening a few doors for me. It just gave me that momentum to take the next step up in my career,” he said.

This week’s field also includes Brandon Pieters, who was only the second player in history to win three times in one season on the series in 2009.

Jean Hugo tees off as the winner of the most Vodacom Origins of Golf titles in the series’ history, having claimed his 12^th title this year. And Yurav Premlall is looking for his second victory on the series this year.

The field also includes four Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals as part of the series’ drive this year for equal opportunity in the game. They will compete in the same tournament for the same prize money as the Sunshine Tour professionals. – Michael Vlismas

Sunshine Tour Partners

About Sunshine Tour

BACK TO ALL NEWS STORIES

Sunshine Tour Partners