The Vodacom Origins of Golf series, the longest-running series of tournaments on the Sunshine Tour, will be back on the Tour’s schedule in 2021 and 2022 after it had to be cancelled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The five-tournament series will tee off in August, with the final tournament set to be played in 2022 and with a total of R5-million in prize money on offer throughout the series.
“We are delighted to welcome back the Vodacom Origins of Golf series to our schedule. Vodacom is one of our oldest partners on the Sunshine Tour and a loyal supporter of South African golf, and we’re extremely grateful for its ongoing support in these challenging times,” said Thomas Abt, commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.
“The cancellation of last year’s Vodacom Origins of Golf series was beyond anybody’s control, and yet Vodacom still worked with us to host tournaments last year and give our members playing opportunities. But, we are truly thrilled to welcome back the full Vodacom Origins of Golf series, which has been an important factor in the development of many of our leading professionals’ careers.”
The return of the popular pro-am series is a major boost for the Sunshine Tour. Since its first tee off in 2004, the Vodacom Origins of Golf series has been the backbone of the Sunshine Tour’s winter schedule and has provided stars, such as Louis Oosthuizen, George Coetzee, Branden Grace and Justin Harding with some of their earliest professional titles.
The series has also established itself as one of the most influential in South African golf as it has supported the work of the South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) with golf clinics at every tournament throughout the country helping to raise millions for charity through its support of, amongst others, The Smile Foundation, the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Foundation, New Beginnings and several other charities, and supported many of the Sunshine Tour’s development and charity initiatives over the years.
“We are extremely pleased to announce the return of the Vodacom Origins of Golf series to the Sunshine Tour. As the longest-running series of tournaments on the Tour, we are immensely proud of the role it has played in the history of the Sunshine Tour and the careers of its leading professionals. But, we’re equally proud of the contribution the series has made to the development of the game and charity,” said William Mzimba, Vodacom’s business chief executive.
The series will tee off at De Zalze Golf Estate from August 4 to 6. It will then travel to Sishen Golf Club from August 26 to 28, followed by Durban Country Club from September 16 to 18 and Humewood Golf Club from October 1 to 3. The final will be played in 2022 with the date and venue to be announced in due course.
