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John Bland (golfer)

{{Short description|South African professional golfer (1945–2023)}}

{{EngvarB|date=August 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}

{{Infobox golfer

| name = John Bland

| image = John Bland.JPG

| imagesize = 200px

| caption = Bland at the 2010 Dutch Senior Open

| fullname = John Louis Bland

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1945|9|22}}

| birth_place = Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2023|5|9|1945|9|22}}

| death_place = George, Western Cape, South Africa

| height = {{height|m=1.75|precision=0}}

| weight = {{convert|73|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}

| nationality = {{ZAF}}

| residence =

| spouse =

| partner =

| children =

| college =

| yearpro = 1969

| extour = European Tour
Sunshine Tour
Champions Tour
European Senior Tour

| prowins = 36

| eurowins = 2

| sunwins = 19

| chalwins = 1

| champwins = 5

| seneurowins = 3

| otherwins = 6

| masters = DNP

| usopen = DNP

| open = T16: 1980

| pga = DNP

| wghofid =

| wghofyear =

| award1 = Southern Africa Tour
Order of Merit winner

| year1 = 1977–78, 1987–88,
1989–90, 1990–91

| award2 = Senior PGA Tour
Rookie of the Year

| year2 = 1996

| awardssection =

}}

John Louis Bland (22 September 1945 – 9 May 2023) was a South African professional golfer who won more than thirty professional tournaments around the world.

Early life and career

Bland was born in Johannesburg, Union of South Africa. Turning professional in 1969, he was a leading player on the Southern African Tour for over twenty years. He spent the northern summers playing on the European Tour, where he won twice. He was a more consistent contender than this tally might suggest, as he finished in the top-20 on the Order of Merit six times.

After reaching the age of fifty in 1995, Bland played mainly on the United States-based Champions Tour. He won five tournaments on the tour, including four in 1996, when he finished third on the money list. He has also won three tournaments on the European Senior Tour.

Death

Bland died after battling cancer in George, Western Cape, South Africa, on 9 May 2023, at the age of 77.{{cite news |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/sa-golfer-john-bland-passes-away/ |title=SA golfer John Bland passes away |date=9 May 2023 |newspaper=The Citizen |location=South Africa |access-date=9 May 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://sunshinetour.com/statement-on-the-passing-of-john-bland |title=Statement on the passing of John Bland |date=9 May 2023 |publisher=Sunshine Tour |access-date=9 May 2023}}

Professional wins (36)

=European Tour wins (2)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner-up

align=center|1

|align=right|21 Aug 1983

|Benson & Hedges International Open

|−15 (68-70-67-68=273)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|FRG}} Bernhard Langer

align=center|2

|align=right|20 Apr 1986

|Suze Open

|−12 (68-71-70-67=276)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|ESP}} Seve Ballesteros

=Southern Africa Tour wins (19)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

! Legend

style="background:thistle;"

| Tour Championships (2)

Other Southern Africa Tour (17)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|22 Oct 1977

|Lexington PGA Championship

|−5 (68-67-70-70=275)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Gary Player

align=center|2

|align=right|29 Oct 1977

|Victoria Falls Classic

|−9 (70-69-72-72=283)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} John Fourie

align=center|3

|align=right|3 Dec 1977

|Holiday Inns Invitational

|−23 (67-66-65-67=265)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Bobby Cole

align=center|4

|align=right|7 Feb 1979

|Holiday Inns Open (2)

|−21 (66-69-65-67=267)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Andries Oosthuizen

align=center|5

|align=right|17 Jan 1981

|Sigma Series 2

|−15 (71-65-70-67=273)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZIM}} Nick Price

align=center|6

|align=right|24 Jan 1981

|Sigma Series 3

|−15 (71-66-66-70=273)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Tienie Britz, {{flagicon|ZIM}} Nick Price

align=center|7

|align=right|26 Feb 1983

|Holiday Inns Pro-Am (3)

|−17 (68-65-68-70=271)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZIM}} Teddy Webber

align=center|8

|align=right|5 Mar 1983

|Kodak Golf Classic

|−17 (65-67-70-69=271)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} David Sann

align=center|9

|align=right|22 Dec 1984

|Goodyear Classic

|−11 (68-69-72-68=277)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|ZIM}} Nick Price

align=center|10

|align=right|20 Dec 1987

|Goodyear Classic (2)

|−3 (71-69-72-69=281)

|2 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} Mark Wiltshire

style="background:thistle;"

|align=center|11

|align=right|13 Mar 1988

|Trustbank Tournament of Champions

|−20 (67-66-67-68=268)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|CAN}} Philip Jonas, {{flagicon|ZIM}} Mark McNulty

align=center|12

|align=right|26 Nov 1988

|Safmarine South African Masters

|−13 (69-70-63-73=275)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZIM}} Tony Johnstone

align=center|13

|align=right|7 Jan 1989

|Dewar's White Label Trophy

|−15 (70-66-71-66=273)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|ZIM}} Tony Johnstone

align=center|14

|align=right|3 Mar 1990

|Dewar's White Label Trophy (2)

|−14 (64-70-71-69=274)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jay Townsend

align=center|15

|align=right|17 Nov 1990

|Minolta Copiers Match Play

|−2 (70)

|5 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} Hugh Baiocchi

align=center|16

|align=right|15 Dec 1990

|Bloemfontein Classic

|−15 (65-67-73-68=273)

|6 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} Hugh Baiocchi

align=center|17

|align=right|12 Jan 1991

|Palabora Classic

|−10 (70-69-68-71=278)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} Mark Wiltshire

align=center|18

|align=right|23 Feb 1991

|Bell's Cup

|−11 (68-67-71-71=277)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} Retief Goosen

style="background:thistle;"

|align=center|19

|align=right|2 Mar 1991

|Trustbank Tournament of Champions (2)

|−19 (62-71-70-66=269)

|7 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1982}} Justin Hobday

Southern Africa Tour playoff record (3–1)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|1979

|Holiday Inns Open

|{{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Andries Oosthuizen

|Won with par on fifth extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|2

|1981

|Datsun South African Open

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Warren Humphreys, {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Gary Player

|Player won with birdie on third extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Player: −2 (70),
Bland: −2 (70),
Humphreys: E (72)

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|3

|1983

|Kodak Golf Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} David Sann

|Won with par on third extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|4

|1984

|Goodyear Classic

|{{flagicon|ZIM}} Nick Price

|Won with birdie on first extra hole

=Challenge Tour wins (1)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner-up

align=center|1

|align=right|22 Jun 1991

|Martini Open

|−18 (270)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Jon Evans

=Other wins (2)=

=Senior PGA Tour wins (5)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|22 Oct 1995

|Ralphs Senior Classic

|−12 (69-67-65=201)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Colbert

align=center|2

|align=right|21 Jan 1996

|Puerto Rico Senior Tournament of Champions

|−9 (69-68-70=207)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Colbert

align=center|3

|align=right|2 Jun 1996

|Bruno's Memorial Classic

|−8 (67-70-71=208)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} John Paul Cain, {{flagicon|USA}} Kermit Zarley

align=center|4

|align=right|18 Aug 1996

|Northville Long Island Classic

|−14 (70-66-66=202)

|3 strokes

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Colbert

align=center|5

|align=right|13 Oct 1996

|The Transamerica

|−12 (69-69-66=204)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Colbert

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–1)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|1

|1996

|Bruno's Memorial Classic

|{{flagicon|USA}} John Paul Cain, {{flagicon|USA}} Kermit Zarley

|Won with bogey on third extra hole
Zarley eliminated by par on second hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|2

|1997

|Senior British Open

|{{flagicon|ZAF}} Gary Player

|Lost to birdie on second extra hole

=European Senior Tour wins (3)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|1 Oct 1995

|London Masters

|−6 (70-69-71=210)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Tony Grubb, {{flagicon|ZAF}} Hugh Inggs,
{{flagicon|ENG}} John Morgan, {{flagicon|ZAF}} Bobby Verwey

align=center|2

|align=right|9 Aug 2009

|Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open

|−11 (65-69-65=199)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Boyd

align=center|3

|align=right|20 Jun 2010

|Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open

|−8 (69-68-71=208)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|PAR}} Ángel Franco, {{flagicon|ZAF}} Chris Williams

European Senior Tour playoff record (1–1)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent!!Result

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|1

|1997

|Senior British Open

|{{flagicon|ZAF}} Gary Player

|Lost to birdie on second extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|2

|2009

|Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open

|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Boyd

|Won with birdie on second extra hole

=Other senior wins (4)=

Results in major championships

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1977

!1978

!1979

!1980

!1981

!1982

!1983

!1984

!1985

!1986

!1987

!1988

!1989

!1990

!1991

align=left|The Open Championship

|CUT

|T52

|CUT

|T16

|CUT

|CUT

|CUT

|CUT

|CUT

|CUT

|CUT

|CUT

|CUT

|T53

|T80

Note: Bland only played in The Open Championship.

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 Open Championships)

"T" = tied

Team appearances

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{EuroTour player|16}}
  • {{PGATour player|11695}}
  • {{SunshineTour player|BLA004}}
  • {{OWGR|435}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bland, John}}

Category:South African male golfers

Category:Sunshine Tour golfers

Category:European Tour golfers

Category:European Senior Tour golfers

Category:PGA Tour Champions golfers

Category:Golfers from Johannesburg

Category:Golfers from the Western Cape

Category:People from Knysna

Category:White South African people

Category:1945 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:20th-century South African sportsmen