View source for Sunshine Tour

{{Short description|Professional golf tour}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title          = Sunshine Tour
| current_season = 2025–26 Sunshine Tour
| last_season    = 
| logo           = Sunshine Tour logo.jpg
| pixels         = 200px
| caption        = 
| formerly       = Sunshine Circuit<br>South African Tour<br>Southern Africa Tour<br>Vodacom Tour<br>FNB Tour
| sport          = Golf
| founded        = 1971 (rebranded as the '''Sunshine Tour''' in 2000)
| fame           =
| motto          =
| inaugural      =
| teams          =
| countries      = Based in South Africa{{efn|Schedules have also included events in Botswana, eSwatini, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.}}
| venue          = 
| champion       = 
| most_champs    = '''Order of Merit titles''':<br>{{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] (8)<br>'''Tournament wins''':<br>{{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] (33)
| qualification  =
| folded         =
| website        = http://www.sunshinetour.com
| singles        =
| ceo            = 
| commissioner   = Thomas Abt
| TV             = [[SuperSport (South African broadcaster)|SuperSport]]
| related_comps  = [[Big Easy Tour]]
| founder        = 
}}
The '''Sunshine Tour''' is a men's professional [[golf]] tour based in [[Southern Africa|Southern]] and [[East Africa]]. For much of its early history it was known either as the '''Southern Africa Tour''' or '''Sunshine Circuit'''; through sponsorship deals, it has also been known as the '''FNB Tour'''<ref>{{cite book |title=South Africa and international sports factfinder |first1=Anton |last1=Berkovitz |first2=Andrew |last2=Samson |publisher=D. Nelson |date=1993 |isbn=1868061019 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XH8wAQAAIAAJ |page=96 |access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref> and the '''Vodacom Tour'''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1997-06-13-vodacom-boosts-pga-tour-annoys-competitor/?amp |title=Vodacom boosts PGA tour, annoys competitor |newspaper=Mail & Guardian |location=Johannesburg, South Africa |date=13 June 1997 |access-date=8 October 2023}}</ref> For the [[2000–01 Sunshine Tour|2000–01 season]] the tour rebranded itself as the ''Sunshine Tour'' in an attempt to broaden its appeal. A large majority of the tour events are still staged in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thegolfvillage.co.za/a-brief-history-of-the-sunshine-tour/ |title=A Brief History of the Sunshine Tour |work=Golf Village |access-date=1 March 2024}}</ref>

==History and status==
The tour is one of the six leading men's tours which before 2009 made up the membership of the [[International Federation of PGA Tours]], but it offers much less prize money than some of the leading tours, and leading Southern African golfers traditionally prefer to play on the [[PGA Tour]] or the [[European Tour]] if they can qualify to do so, typically returning to play in Sunshine Tour events a couple of times a year.

Most of the tour's leading official money events, including the [[South African Open (golf)|South African Open]], are co-sanctioned with the European Tour to attract stronger fields. The 2015 season included 27 official money events. The co-sanctioned events had purses ranging from {{currency|1 million|EUR}} to {{currency|6.5 million|USD}}, while the other 21 events had purses designated in [[South African Rand]] and ranging from 650,000 rand to 4.5 million rand. There was at least one tournament every month of the year except July, but the main events took place in the South African summer from November to February.

In accordance with the [[apartheid]] policy of the governments of Southern Africa, the tour was only open to [[White people|White]] players for its first 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/golf/sunshine-tour-transforming-sa-golf-in-honour-of-papwa-sewgolum-20230202|title=Sunshine Tour transforming SA golf in honour of Papwa Sewgolum|first=Lynn|last=Butler|website=Sport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.investec.com/en_ie/sponsorships/transformation-in-golf.html|title=Transformation in Golf &#124; Papwa Sewgolum Class}}</ref> The tour has been open to non-White players since 1991. Five [[Black people|black]] golfers have won events: South Africa's [[John Mashego]] at the 1991 Bushveld Classic; South Africa's [[Lindani Ndwandwe]] at the 2001 Western Cape Classic and 2009 [[Highveld Classic]]; Zimbabwe's [[Tongoona Charamba]] at the 2006 SAA Pro-Am Invitational<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.co.za/default.asp?AID=179665 |title=Charamba rewrites history at SAA Pro-Am Invitational |publisher=Sunshine Tour |date=22 May 2006 |access-date=1 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930020244/http://www.pgatour.co.za/default.asp?AID=179665 |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> and 2008 [[MTC Namibia PGA Championship]]; Zambia's [[Madalitso Muthiya]] at the 2016 [[Vodacom Origins of Golf]] (Wild Coast); and South Africa's Toto Thimba Jr. at the 2019 [[KCB Karen Masters]].

In 2016, the Sunshine Tour announced an affiliation with the [[MENA Golf Tour]], allowing the top five MENA Tour players Sunshine Tour cards and those 6th-15th into the final stage of Q School. A number of events would also be co-sanctioned among the Sunshine Tour, MENA Tour, and developmental [[Big Easy Tour]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.owgr.com/news/2016/april/press-release |title=OWGR Board Announcement |publisher=Official World Golf Ranking |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417203844/http://www.owgr.com/news/2016/april/press-release |archive-date=17 April 2016 |date=15 April 2016 |access-date=12 June 2023 |quote=Following a recent announcement that the top 5 players on the final 2016 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit will earn full playing privileges on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, as well as the MENA Golf Tour receiving 10 exemptions into the Sunshine Tour Final Stage of Qualifying School and 3 Tri Sanctioned Tournaments with the MENA Golf Tour, Sunshine Tour and the Big Easy Tour…}}</ref>

In May 2022, it was announced that the Order of Merit would be reformatted for the [[2022–23 Sunshine Tour|2022–23 season]]. It was sponsored by Luno, a cryptocurrency platform. The rankings changed to a points-based system, rather than being decided on money earned. Points earned are based on tournament prize money which are split into five tiers. The leader of the OoM will receive {{currency|500,000|ZAR}}; paid in [[Bitcoin]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.compleatgolfer.com/news/sunshine-tour-announces-new-luno-order-merit/ |title=Sunshine Tour announces new Luno Order of Merit |magazine=Compleat Golfer |date=5 May 2022 |access-date=9 September 2023}}</ref>

Since 2022, the top three players on the Order of Merit at the end of the season earn status to play on the [[European Tour]] for the following season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/europeantour-and-sunshine-tour-launch-landmark-partnership/ |title=European Tour and Sunshine Tour launch landmark partnership |publisher=European Tour |date=9 July 2021 |accessdate=22 February 2023}}</ref>

==Schedule==
{{main|2024–25 Sunshine Tour}}

==Order of Merit winners==
{| class="wikitable"
!Season !! Winner !! Points
|-
| align=center|[[2024–25 Sunshine Tour|2024–25]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Daniel van Tonder]] || align=center|4,155
|-
| align=center|[[2023–24 Sunshine Tour|2023–24]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Ryan van Velzen]] || align=center|3,525
|-
| align=center|[[2022–23 Sunshine Tour|2022–23]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Ockie Strydom]] || align=center|3,336
|-
!Season !! Winner !! Prize money ([[South African rand|R]])
|-
| align=center|[[2021–22 Sunshine Tour|2021–22]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Shaun Norris (golfer)|Shaun Norris]] || align=center|4,890,994
|-
| align=center|[[2020–21 Sunshine Tour|2020–21]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Christiaan Bezuidenhout]] || align=center|7,789,088
|-
| align=center|[[2019–20 Sunshine Tour|2019–20]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[J. C. Ritchie]] || align=center|2,162,387 
|-
| align=center|[[2018–19 Sunshine Tour|2018–19]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Zander Lombard]] || align=center|2,119,985
|-
| align=center|[[2017–18 Sunshine Tour|2017–18]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[George Coetzee]] (2) || align=center|2,937,226
|-
| align=center|[[2016–17 Sunshine Tour|2016–17]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Brandon Stone]] || align=center|7,384,889
|-
| align=center|[[2015 Sunshine Tour|2015]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[George Coetzee]] || align=center|5,470,684
|-
| align=center|[[2014 Sunshine Tour|2014]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Thomas Aiken]] || align=center|4,057,642
|-
| align=center|[[2013 Sunshine Tour|2013]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Dawie van der Walt]] || align=center|5,094,333
|-
| align=center|[[2012 Sunshine Tour|2012]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Branden Grace]] || align=center|2,760,319
|-
| align=center|[[2011 Sunshine Tour|2011]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Garth Mulroy]] || align=center|3,464,463
|-
| align=center|[[2010 Sunshine Tour|2010]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Charl Schwartzel]] (4) || align=center|5,097,914
|-
| align=center|[[2009 Sunshine Tour|2009]] || {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Anders Hansen]] || align=center|4,286,038
|-
| align=center|[[2008 Sunshine Tour|2008]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Richard Sterne (golfer)|Richard Sterne]] || align=center|5,599,265
|-
| align=center|[[2007 Sunshine Tour|2007]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[James Kingston]] || align=center|1,980,689
|-
| align=center|[[2006–07 Sunshine Tour|2006–07]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Charl Schwartzel]] (3) || align=center|1,585,117
|-
| align=center|[[2005–06 Sunshine Tour|2005–06]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Charl Schwartzel]] (2) || align=center|1,207,460
|-
| align=center|[[2004–05 Sunshine Tour|2004–05]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Charl Schwartzel]] || align=center|1,635,850
|-
| align=center|[[2003–04 Sunshine Tour|2003–04]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Darren Fichardt]] (2) || align=center|726,545
|-
| align=center|[[2002–03 Sunshine Tour|2002–03]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Trevor Immelman]] || align=center|2,044,280
|-
| align=center|[[2001–02 Sunshine Tour|2001–02]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Tim Clark (golfer)|Tim Clark]] || align=center|1,669,901
|-
| align=center|[[2000–01 Sunshine Tour|2000–01]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] (8) || align=center|1,603,481
|-
| align=center|[[1999–2000 Southern Africa Tour|1999–2000]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Darren Fichardt]] || align=center|558,735
|-
| align=center|[[1998–99 Southern Africa Tour|1998–99]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[David Frost (golfer)|David Frost]] || align=center|1,189,762
|-
| align=center|[[1997–98 Southern Africa Tour|1997–98]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] (7) || align=center|589,053
|-
| align=center|[[1996–97 Southern Africa Tour|1996–97]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Nick Price]] (2) || align=center|	1,223,027
|-
| align=center|[[1995–96 Southern Africa Tour|1995–96]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Wayne Westner]] || align=center|709,389
|-
| align=center|[[1994–95 Southern Africa Tour|1994–95]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Ernie Els]] (2) || align=center|460,488
|-
| align=center|[[1993–94 Southern Africa Tour|1993–94]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Tony Johnstone]] (2) || align=center|297,359
|-
| align=center|[[1992–93 Southern Africa Tour|1992–93]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] (6) || align=center|250,079
|-
| align=center|[[1991–92 Southern Africa Tour|1991–92]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[Ernie Els]] || align=center|324,017
|-
| align=center|[[1990–91 Southern Africa Tour|1990–91]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[John Bland (golfer)|John Bland]] (4) || align=center|333,637
|-
| align=center|[[1989–90 Southern Africa Tour|1989–90]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[John Bland (golfer)|John Bland]] (3) || align=center|180,893
|-
| align=center|[[1988–89 Southern Africa Tour|1988–89]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Tony Johnstone]] || align=center|254,950
|-
| align=center|[[1987–88 Southern Africa Tour|1987–88]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[John Bland (golfer)|John Bland]] (2) || align=center|143,301
|-
| align=center|[[1986–87 Southern Africa Tour|1986–87]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] (5) || align=center|134,690
|-
| align=center|[[1985–86 Southern Africa Tour|1985–86]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] (4) || align=center|113,527
|-
| align=center|[[1984–85 Southern Africa Tour|1984–85]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] (3) || align=center|57,750
|-
| align=center|[[1983–84 Southern Africa Tour|1983–84]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[Gavan Levenson]] || align=center|43,940
|-
| align=center|[[1982–83 Southern Africa Tour|1982–83]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Nick Price]] || align=center|31,986
|-
| align=center|[[1981–82 Southern Africa Tour|1981–82]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] (2) || align=center|67,054
|-
| align=center|[[1980–81 Southern Africa Tour|1980–81]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] || align=center|50,192
|-
| align=center|[[1979–80 Southern Africa Tour|1979–80]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Gary Player]] (2) || align=center|49,680
|-
| align=center|[[1978–79 Southern Africa Tour|1978–79]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Hugh Baiocchi]] || align=center|19,804
|-
| align=center|[[1977–78 Southern Africa Tour|1977–78]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[John Bland (golfer)|John Bland]] || align=center|25,171
|-
| align=center|[[1976–77 Southern Africa Tour|1976–77]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Gary Player]] || align=center|19,363
|-
| align=center|[[1975–76 Southern Africa Tour|1975–76]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Allan Henning]] (2) || align=center|18,275
|-
!Season !! Winner !! Points
|-
| align=center|[[1974–75 Southern Africa Tour|1974–75]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Allan Henning]] || align=center|1,833
|-
| align=center|[[1973–74 Southern Africa Tour|1973–74]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Bobby Cole (golfer)|Bobby Cole]] || align=center|1,664
|-
| align=center|[[1972–73 Southern Africa Tour|1972–73]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Dale Hayes]] || align=center|1,252
|-
| align=center|[[1971–72 Southern Africa Tour|1971–72]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Tienie Britz]] || align=center|1,604
|}

===Multiple winners===
{|class="wikitable"
!Rank!!Player!!Wins!!Years won
|-
| align=center|1 || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Mark McNulty]] || align=center|8 || [[1980–81 Southern Africa Tour|1980–81]], [[1981–82 Southern Africa Tour|1981–82]], [[1984–85 Southern Africa Tour|1984–85]], [[1985–86 Southern Africa Tour|1985–86]], [[1986–87 Southern Africa Tour|1986–87]], [[1992–93 Southern Africa Tour|1992–93]], [[1997–98 Southern Africa Tour|1997–98]], [[2000–01 Sunshine Tour|2000–01]]
|-
| rowspan=2 align=center|2 || {{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[John Bland (golfer)|John Bland]] || rowspan=2 align=center|4 || [[1977–78 Southern Africa Tour|1977–78]], [[1987–88 Southern Africa Tour|1987–88]], [[1989–90 Southern Africa Tour|1989–90]], [[1990–91 Southern Africa Tour|1990–91]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Charl Schwartzel]] || [[2004–05 Sunshine Tour|2004–05]], [[2005–06 Sunshine Tour|2005–06]], [[2006–07 Sunshine Tour|2006–07]], [[2010 Sunshine Tour|2010]]
|-
| rowspan=7 align=center|T4 || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[George Coetzee]] || rowspan=7 align=center|2 || [[2015 Sunshine Tour|2015]], [[2017–18 Sunshine Tour|2017–18]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Ernie Els]] || [[1991–92 Southern Africa Tour|1991–92]], [[1994–95 Southern Africa Tour|1994–95]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Darren Fichardt]] || [[1999–2000 Southern Africa Tour|1999–2000]], [[2003–04 Sunshine Tour|2003–04]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Allan Henning]] || [[1974–75 Southern Africa Tour|1974–75]], [[1975–76 Southern Africa Tour|1975–76]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Tony Johnstone]] || [[1988–89 Southern Africa Tour|1988–89]], [[1993–94 Southern Africa Tour|1993–94]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Gary Player]] || [[1976–77 Southern Africa Tour|1976–77]], [[1979–80 Southern Africa Tour|1979–80]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Nick Price]] || [[1982–83 Southern Africa Tour|1982–83]], [[1996–97 Southern Africa Tour|1996–97]]
|}

==Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
!Season!!Players' Player of the Year!!Rookie of the Year
|-
| align=center|[[2024–25 Sunshine Tour|2024–25]] || rowspan=7 align=center|''No award'' || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Altin van der Merwe]]
|-
| align=center|[[2023–24 Sunshine Tour|2023–24]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Robin Williams (golfer)|Robin Williams]]
|-
| align=center|[[2022–23 Sunshine Tour|2022–23]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Casey Jarvis]]
|-
| align=center|[[2021–22 Sunshine Tour|2021–22]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Jayden Schaper]] (2)
|-
| align=center|[[2020–21 Sunshine Tour|2020–21]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Jayden Schaper]]
|-
| align=center|[[2019–20 Sunshine Tour|2019–20]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Garrick Higgo]]
|-
| align=center|[[2018–19 Sunshine Tour|2018–19]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Benjamin Follett-Smith]]
|-
| align=center|[[2017–18 Sunshine Tour|2017–18]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Oliver Bekker]] || {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Neil O'Briain]]
|-
| align=center|[[2016–17 Sunshine Tour|2016–17]] || align=center|''Unknown'' || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Christiaan Bezuidenhout]]
|-
| align=center|[[2015 Sunshine Tour|2015]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Dean Burmester]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Rourke van der Spuy]]
|-
| align=center|[[2014 Sunshine Tour|2014]] || align=center|''Unknown'' || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Haydn Porteous]]
|-
| align=center|[[2013 Sunshine Tour|2013]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Darren Fichardt]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Dylan Frittelli]]
|-
| align=center|[[2012 Sunshine Tour|2012]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Trevor Fisher Jnr]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Daniel van Tonder]]
|-
| align=center|[[2011 Sunshine Tour|2011]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Jean Hugo (golfer)|Jean Hugo]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Allan Versfeld]]
|-
| align=center|[[2010 Sunshine Tour|2010]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Jaco van Zyl]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Anthony Michael]]
|-
| align=center|[[2009 Sunshine Tour|2009]] || rowspan=17 align=center|''Unknown'' || {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Graham DeLaet]]
|-
| align=center|[[2008 Sunshine Tour|2008]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Louis Moolman (golfer)|Louis Moolman]]
|-
| align=center|[[2007 Sunshine Tour|2007]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ross McGowan]]
|-
| align=center|[[2006–07 Sunshine Tour|2006–07]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Rossouw Loubser]]
|-
| align=center|[[2005–06 Sunshine Tour|2005–06]] || align=center|''Unknown''
|-
| align=center|[[2004–05 Sunshine Tour|2004–05]] || {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Garry Houston]]
|-
| align=center|[[2003–04 Sunshine Tour|2003–04]] || {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Johan Edfors]]
|-
| align=center|[[2002–03 Sunshine Tour|2002–03]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Charl Schwartzel]]
|-
| align=center|[[2001–02 Sunshine Tour|2001–02]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Nicholas Lawrence]]
|-
| align=center|[[2000–01 Sunshine Tour|2000–01]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Trevor Immelman]]
|-
| align=center|[[1999–2000 Southern Africa Tour|1999–2000]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Jean Hugo (golfer)|Jean Hugo]]
|-
| align=center|[[1998–99 Southern Africa Tour|1998–99]] || align=center|''Unknown''
|-
| align=center|[[1997–98 Southern Africa Tour|1997–98]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Richard Fulford]]
|-
| align=center|[[1996–97 Southern Africa Tour|1996–97]] || align=center|''Unknown''
|-
| align=center|[[1995–96 Southern Africa Tour|1995–96]] || {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Alan McLean (golfer)|Alan McLean]]
|-
| align=center|[[1994–95 Southern Africa Tour|1994–95]] || align=center|''Unknown''
|-
| align=center|[[1993–94 Southern Africa Tour|1993–94]] || {{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} [[Brenden Pappas]]
|}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official site|http://sunshinetour.com/}}

{{Sunshine Tour Events}}
{{Sunshine Tour seasons}}
{{Men's Professional Golf Tours}}

[[Category:Sunshine Tour| ]]
[[Category:Professional golf tours]]
[[Category:Golf in South Africa]]