Richard Kaplan (golfer)

Richard Dennis Kaplan (born 10 March 1962) is a South African professional golfer who currently plays on the Sunshine Tour.

Richard Kaplan
Personal information
Full name	Richard Dennis Kaplan
Born	(1962-03-10) 10 March 1962 (age 63) Johannesburg, South Africa
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Sporting nationality	South Africa
Residence	Sandton, South Africa
Career
Turned professional	1990
Current tour(s)	Sunshine Tour
Former tour(s)	Asian Tour
Professional wins	9
Number of wins by tour
Asian Tour	1
Sunshine Tour	4
Other	4

Kaplan was born in Johannesburg and currently lives in Sandton, Johannesburg with his wife and two children. He had a decorated amateur career during the 1980s, which included winning the English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship (Brabazon Trophy) in 1986 and the Southern Transvaal Open Strokeplay in 1984. He also earned his Springbok colors four times.

Kaplan turned professional in 1986 and won for the first time on the Sunshine Tour in 1995. He added three more tour wins between then and 2000. His best year-end finish on the Order of Merit was 9th in 1993, 1994 and 1995.

Kaplan has also competed on the Asian Tour where, in 1996, he won the Royal Thai Classic and finished in the top 20 on the Order of Merit.

Speaking in an interview, Kaplan said that his heroes are Jack Nicklaus because "he's the greatest" and Tiger Woods because "he's becoming the greatest".^{[citation needed]}

Amateur highlights

• Springbok Colors 4 Times
• 1984 Southern Transvaal Open Strokeplay
• 1986 English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship

Professional wins (9)

Asian PGA Tour wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	8 Dec 1996	Royal Thai Classic	−17 (65-70-69-67=271)	Playoff	Nico van Rensburg

Asian PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1996	Royal Thai Classic	Nico van Rensburg	Won with birdie on first extra hole

Sunshine Tour wins (4)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	7 May 1995	Amatola Sun Classic	−6 (68-70-72=210)	Playoff	Bobby Lincoln, Sean Pappas
2	30 Sep 1995	FNB Pro Series (Western Cape)	−2 (72-70-72=214)	2 strokes	Sammy Daniels, Ashley Roestoff
3	3 Mar 1996	Hollard Royal Swazi Sun Classic	−17 (66-67-70-68=271)	Playoff	Wayne Westner
4	1 Apr 2000	FNB Botswana Open	−10 (71-67-65=203)	1 stroke	Callie Swart

Sunshine Tour playoff record (2–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1995	Amatola Sun Classic	Bobby Lincoln, Sean Pappas
2	1996	Hollard Royal Swazi Sun Classic	Wayne Westner
3	1998	FNB Botswana Open	Justin Hobday	Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (4)

• 1989 (1) Pietersburg Classic
• 1990 (2) Pietermaritzburg, Nissan Challenge
• 1991 (1) Pietersburg Classic

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament	1999
Match Play
Championship	61
Invitational

  Did not play

Team appearances

• World Cup (representing South Africa): 1999

External links

• Richard Kaplan at the Sunshine Tour official site
• Richard Kaplan at the Official World Golf Ranking official site