Richard Kaplan (golfer)

Richard Kaplan
Personal information
Full name Richard Dennis Kaplan
Born 10 March 1962
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

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

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".

Amateur highlights

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