PLETTENBERG BAY GOLF NEWS - The SA Senior Open is in full swing in Plettenberg Bay with former champion James Kingston back on the green to defend his title.
The tournament, which is part of the Sunshine Senior Tour, starts at the Plettenberg Bay Country Club today, 6 April, and will conclude on Friday 9 April.
The event has become a highlight for professional South African golfers over the age of 50 and is being funded and hosted by the Bitou Municipality for the fourth time.
The event was cancelled last year as a result of Covid-19.
Kingston, who won the 2019 tournament with a score of 280 and a nine-shot victory, is back to defend his title and is a firm favourite to lift the trophy once more. Kingston has won the Sunshine Tour 11 times, the Asian Tour four times, the European Tour twice and has three Senior Tour titles to his name.
Over the next four days, 65 senior professionals will attempt to give Kingston a run for his money. The first two days of the event are supported by a complement of 126 amateurs in a pro-am.
While spectators are not allowed, due to Covid-19 Level 1 restrictions, fans can still follow the action through the Sunshine Senior Tour Facebook page and through a post-event highlights clip on SuperSport.
Organisers said the Plettenberg Bay Country Club golf course is in top condition.
Mayor Peter Lobese said he believes that the tournament will provide "a timely economic boost" to the Plett hospitality industry which had been struggling due to the pandemic.
"The event provides the perfect opportunity to showcase that the area is safe for travel and is the perfect opportunity to showcase the destination's world-class natural assets. The event will also help raise funds for the Mayoral Bursary Fund, which was established to support disadvantaged students wanting to enrol for tertiary education," Lobese said.
Plett Tourism acting chief executive Patty Butterworth said their #SafeTravels campaign had been reinforcing safety protocols with local businesses to encourage safe holidays for the community and visitors.
Sunshine Senior Tour chief operations officer Neville Clarke said he is delighted with the continued support of the municipality. "We are very happy to once again have the Bitou Municipality hosting us in this beautiful region and on this great golf course. The event has become the highlight of the Sunshine Senior Tour calendar," Clarke said.
The event is not only about golf - it is also supporting the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) to boost their conservation efforts. The tour provides a portion of the prize fund and also raises awareness for the local endangered species at each event.
The newly rebranded Sunshine Senior Tour is a result of a partnership with the SA Senior Tour and the Sunshine Tour. The tour structure aims to provide a competitive tournament schedule to, among others, grow senior professional golf in South Africa.
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