SA golf celebrates Denis Hutchinson

26 January 2023 – South African golf came together this January to recognise one of its greats at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club on Sunday as professionals and amateurs celebrated the incredible contribution Denis Hutchinson has made to the game.

Members of the Sunshine Ladies Tour joined professionals from the Sunshine Tour & PGA of South Africa, as well as representatives of the GolfRSA National Squad & South African Golf Development Board to celebrate the incredible contribution of SA golfing great Denis Hutchinson has made to the game at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.

The annual Denis Hutchinson Challenge team competition, in celebration of Hutchinson’s career as a golfer and a broadcaster, was played on the West Course.

Hutchinson had multiple victories on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour in his playing career, including famously being the last amateur to have won the Investec South African Open Championship in 1959.

In addition to entertaining golf fans for years with his colourful commentary on the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour, Hutchinson has been recognised with Lifetime Membership of the Sunshine Tour and as Honorary Life President of the PGA of South Africa – amongst his many accolades.

“Hutchy has been such a wonderful ambassador for South African golf for decades now, both as a player who competed with some of the greats of the game, and then as a commentator who became known as ‘The Voice of Golf’. It’s an honour for all of us in the family of South African golf to come together on a day such as this and take the time to recognise the immense contribution he has made to the game we all love,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour.

The Sunshine Ladies Tour ensemble included Ivanna Samu, Zethu Myeki, Lara Assad, Lejan Lewthwaite, Yolanda Duma, Nadia van der Westhuizen, Larissa du Preez, Kelsey Nicholas and Shawnelle de Lange. 

Samu, together with Central Gauteng SAGDB member Kael Strydom, Sunshine Tour player Nikhil Rama, and PGA of South Africa professional Gregory Jacobs took top honours with 89 points.

GolfRSA CEO and SAGDB Managing Director Grant Hepburn added: “We are honoured to have our young rising stars partake in this celebration of one of our golfing greats. Not only could they learn from the professionals, but Hutchie has a world of experience which he is eager to impart, and this opportunity for our youngsters to spend time with him was priceless.”