The 2020 Joburg Open Pro-Am, featuring a smaller than usual field of only 216 professionals and amateurs playing in a three-ball alliance, was led by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo, Sunshine Tour Executive Director Selwyn Nathan and professional golfer Haydn Porteous, the former winner of the tournament, at Firethorn Course at Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg this week.
Adhering to Covid-19 compliance regulations and protocols for non-contact sports, similarly to when the 2020 Joburg Open gets underway at Randpark on Thursday, a smaller field of 156 players will take to the greens.
On arrival at the tournament earlier this week, each player and all caddies underwent mandatory Covid-19 testing and will continue to undergo daily temperature screening prior to play as stringent protective measures for all professional golfers, caddies as well as tournament staff.
Among the Pro-Am field on Tuesday, 17 November 2020, were two-time winner Richard Sterne, who claimed bragging rights in 2008 and 2013, was one of the heavyweights partnered with Mpho Mohlala and Stephen Nale of the City for the 2020 edition of the event.
Other notable figures who took part included previous top 10 finishers: Shaun Norris, Jaco van Zyl, Daniel van Tonder, Jaco Ahlers, Justin Walters, Joachim Hansen and Ross McGowan to name just a few.
Mayor Makhubo said the Joburg Open – which tees off on Thursday 19 – had showcased the City of Johannesburg to millions of TV viewers worldwide since its inception in 2007.
“With the tournament returning to South African fairways while the we and the rest of the world still battling with Coronavirus pandemic, Joburg Open gives us the opportunity to showcase our abilities to host a Covid-compliant international event, and to position ourselves as a world-class golf-hosting city with all the facilities that we have,” he said.
He said the Joburg Open has been influential in improving the game for some of the young golfers and assisted many to launch their careers, including those of young South African golfers.
City of Johannesburg’s Director of Events, Bongi Mokaba, said she was pleased that the Joburg Open Pro-Am had gone exceptionally well with no glitches and no positive cases reported so far for Covid-19. The City is looking forward to a successful tournament.
“While on the sporting front the Joburg Open is a showcase of some of the best Sunshine Tour and European Tour pro golfers in action, it also has an additional objective – affording small business owners an opportunity to showcase their offerings. This is part of the City’s strategy to support small businesses by providing an enabling environment for up and coming entrepreneurs to be exposed to a broader market at an international event.
“Despite no spectators being allowed at this year’s Joburg Open, the tournament continues with its much-needed support to small business. Local gin distiller and owner of Afro Spirits Nino Zama, had the opportunity to showcase two of her uniquely pot distilled gins, Mamelodi Gin and Mamelodi Dry Gin, at today’s Pro-Am prize giving function,” Mokaba said.
Written by Luyanda Lunika
