2012 AFRICA OPEN

TOURNAMENT DATES
PRO-AM: 4 January 2012
TOURNAMENT: 5 to 8 January 2012

GOLF DEVELOPMENT CLINIC
A golf development clinic will be held on 4 January 2012

TOURNAMENT VENUE
East London Golf Club, Gleneagles Road, Bunker Hill, East London
TEL: +27 (0) 43 735 1356 / +27 (0)43 735 1356 / FAX: +27 (0)43 735 1390

DEFENDING CHAMPION
Louis Oosthuizen
Winning Score: 276 (-16) in rounds of 70-67-69-70

PAST CHAMPIONS
2010 - Charl Schwartzel RSA (East London Golf Club)
2009 - Retief Goosen RSA (East London Golf Club)
2008 - Shaun Norris RSA (Fish River Sun Country Club)

PRIZE FUND
€1-million

FIELD SIZE
156 professionals (half each from the Sunshine and European Tours)

TEE TIMES
To be announced

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The competition will be decided over 72 holes Stroke Play. All contestants participate in the first two rounds. On conclusion of the second round there will be a cut to the 65th placed professional and those tying. In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a sudden death playoff on holes to be determined by the Tournament Director.

SANCTIONING BODIES
The European PGA Tour and the Sunshine Tour

TICKET PRICE
Entry for children under 18 and pensioners is free
Adults: Thurs and Friday - Free
Saturday and Sunday - R20/day

COURSE INFORMATION
Designers: George Peck and Colonel SV Hotchkin
Type: Combination of Links and Parklands
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Fairway Grass: Kikuyu and Cynodon
Greens Grass: Sea-dwarf paspalum

ABOUT THE COURSE
The East London golf course features a unique natural course layout, measuring 6,163 meters (6,740 yards) for the tournament. The course meanders through coastal dunes and dense, indigenous bush.

The course is enhanced by striking natural scenery overlooking the Indian Ocean and offers breathtaking views of the sea and Nahoon Reef, a world-famous surfing spot. The course has hosted six South African Opens and a number of Amateur Championships. It requires stamina and accuracy from players, who must contend with steep climbs up and down the dunes and more often than not, contend with a fierce wind whistling through the valleys.

SIGNATURE HOLE
The long par-four ninth hole is one of South Africa's great golf holes, a dogleg played from an elevated tee over an undulating fairway into a valley framed
by bush.

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QUICK STATS

Course Record
61 Richard Sterne (set in the third round of the 2009 Africa Open)

Best tournament rounds
61 Richard Sterne (RSA): third round; 2009
62 Angel Cabrera (ARG): first round; 2009
63 Graham DeLaet (CAN): first round; 2009

Best nine holes
29 Angel Cabrera (ARG): round one from holes 10 – 18; 2009
30 Scott Hend (AUS): round four from holes 10-18; 2011
30 Eirik Tage Johnson (NOR): round four from holes 10-18; 2011
30 Dawie van der Walt (RSA): round three from holes 10-18; 2010
30 Richard Sterne (RSA): round three from holes 10 – 18; 2009

Most eagles in all rounds
5 Branden Grace (RSA); 2010

Most Birdies in all Rounds
26 James Morrison (ENG); 2010
26 James Kingston (RSA); 2009

Most Consecutive Birdies in a Single Round
6 Dawie van der Walt (RSA): round three from 11-16; 2010
6 Robert Coles (ENG): round one from 1-6; 2010