In recognition of an “Out of the Ordinary” season so far, Investec awarded Heinrich Bruiners the sponsor’s invitation to compete in this year’s 112th Investec SA Open Championship.
As the highest-placed professional (not otherwise exempt) on the Papwa Sewgolum Class Order of Merit, Bruiners will, courtesy of Investec, join the 156-strong field at the Investec SA Open Championship and compete for an impressive prize fund of $1.5 million. The globally televised championship will take place from Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 December 2022 at the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate.
Bruiners has been one of the leading performers in the Papwa Sewgolum Class in a season where he’s worked hard to reclaim the form that saw him win the 2013 Vodacom Origins of Golf at Euphoria Golf Estate. Bruiners has missed only three cuts on the Sunshine Tour this entire season and has had nine top-20 finishes, including a share of 12th place in the prestigious South African PGA Championship.
“Adding to the title sponsorship of the South African Open Championship, Investec is a proud patron of the Papwa Sewgolum Class for the next three years. Awarding the sponsor’s invitation is another way the brand is growing transformation in South African golf and enabling tomorrow’s stars to make the leap onto the professional circuit,” says Peta Dixon, Investec’s head of sponsorships.
“In light of our values of equality, belonging, inclusion and diversity, Investec takes tremendous pride in awarding a well-deserved player this Out of the Ordinary opportunity. We congratulate Heinrich Bruiners – it is an honour to afford him the opportunity to showcase his talent on the world stage come 1 December. May he enjoy his experience and know that the possibilities are endless,” added Dixon.
The 34-year-old Bruiners said: “I’ve reached the age now where I want to perform more than ever. I’m more motivated now than ever in my golf career”.
Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for Heinrich and we’re extremely grateful to Investec for awarding him a place in the Investec South African Open Championship. Investec shares the Sunshine Tour’s vision to transform South African professional golf and is a proud supporter of our Papwa Sewgolum Class. Heinrich’s place in our national Open will no doubt inspire our other Papwa Sewgolum Class professionals to keep working even harder to make their own dreams a reality.”
Caption (from left right): Sunshine Tour professional Heinrich Bruiners; Peta Dixon, Investec head of sponsorships; and Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.
About the Papwa Sewgolum Class:
This initiative provides financial and other support to players who turn professional after graduating from the GolfRSA squad and similar programmes. This ‘bridging support’ plugs a gap that exists when the new professionals are no longer eligible for the assistance they enjoyed as amateurs. The Class is made up of Sunshine Tour professionals who are players of colour (male) who earn their cards on the Sunshine Tour. Approximately 61 professional male golfers of colour participate in the SAT transformation initiatives each year.
