Blow for Scottish pros as South African events are postponed due to Covid

A number of Scottish professionals have been forced to put the start of their 2021 campaigns on hold after the postponement of a string of events in South Africa due to ongoing concerns caused by Covid-19.

Jane Turner. who is attached to Dalmahoy, won the South African Women's Masters on last season's Ladies Sunshine Tour. Picture: Shannon Naidoo/GS Communications.

Three tournaments co-sanctioned by the Challenge Tour and Sunshine Tour scheduled for next month have been delayed until April and May, meaning the likes of Craig Howie now faces a longer winter break than he expected.

The start of the Sunshine Ladies Tour has also been postponed until April, with Jane Turner, a winner on the circuit last season, having been due to fly out to South Africa next week.

The Challenge Tour, which is the European Tour’s feeder circuit, had been due to get underway with the Dimension Data Pro-Am, won by Paul Lawrie in 2017, at Fancourt from 11-14 February.

That was set to be followed by the Cape Town Open from February 18-21 then the Limpopo Championship from February 25-28.

Instead, the circuit’s South African Swing will now start in the week of 22-25 April, with an announcement set to be made shortly regarding this tournament and its venue.

This will be followed by the Cape Town Open on 29 April-2 May then the Dimension Data Pro-Am from 6-9 May.

Jamie Hodges, Head of the Challenge Tour, said: “The decision to postpone these events follows consultation with all stakeholders and was made with the health and well-being of all players and staff as our absolute priority.”

The first event on the 2021 Sunshine Ladies Tour, where half the fields are usually filled by international players, is planned for the week after Easter.

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