John Bland (golfer)
John Louis Bland is a South African professional golfer who has won more than thirty professional tournaments around the world.
Bland was born in Johannesburg. 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 in this venue, including four in 1996, when he finished third on the money list. He has also won three tournaments on the European Senior Tour.
Bland is a friend of fellow South African golfer Gary Player and regularly plays in the Gary Player Invitational charity golf series to raise money for children's causes around the world.
Professional wins (36)
European Tour wins (2)
Sunshine Tour wins (20)
- 1977 Holiday Inns Champion of Champions, Victoria Falls Classic, South African PGA Championship
- 1979 Holiday Inns Invitational
- 1981 Sigma Series 2, Sigma Series 3
- 1983 Holiday Inns Invitational, Kodak Classic
- 1984 Goodyear Classic
- 1987 Goodyear Classic
- 1988 Trustbank Tournament of Champions, Safmarine Masters
- 1989 Dewar's White Label Trophy
- 1990 Dewar's White Label Trophy, Minolta Match Play, Spoomet Bloemfontein Classic
- 1991 Palabora Classic, Bell's Cup, Trustbank Tournament of Champions, Martini Open
Challenge Tour wins (1)
- 1991 Martini Open
Other wins (1)
- 1970 Transvaal Open
Senior PGA Tour wins (5)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
1 | 1996 | Bruno's Memorial Classic | John Paul Cain, Kermit Zarley | Won with bogey on third extra hole Zarley eliminated with par on second hole |
European Senior Tour wins (3)
European Senior Tour playoff recordNo. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
1 | 2009 | Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open | Bob Boyd | Won with birdie on second extra hole |
Other senior wins (4)
- 1997 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, Franklin Templeton Senior South African Open
- 1998 Franklin Templeton Senior South African Open
- 2010 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Raphael Division,
Results in major championships
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied