This was a breakout season for a trio of young Zimbabwean golfers, Mark McNulty, Nick Price, and Denis Watson. Early in the season, however, they regularly finished runner-up to veterans like Hugh Baiocchi, Harold Henning, and Bobby Cole. Late in the season, however, they all won tournaments with McNulty capturing Order of Merit honours.
Early in the season it was veterans who dominated, often beating young golfers down the stretch. Veteran Hugh Baiocchi won the inaugural event of the season, the Zimbabwe Open, by one over joint runner-up Watson.[1] Baiocchi also won the subsequent event, the Lexington PGA Championship, by one shot over joint runner-up McNulty.[2] The following week's event, the ICL International, was won by a 46-year-old Harold Henning by a stroke over Watson, again joint runner-up.[3] The next week, at the Datsun South African Open, McNulty was runner-up again, four behind champion Bobby Cole, another veteran.[4]
Late in the year, the trio of young golfers from Zimbabwe started winning tournaments. At the first event after the Christmas interlude, Mark McNulty finally won, earning a victory at the Sigma Series 1, defeating Nick Price, the solo runner-up. The second edition of the series was won by John Bland.[5] Bland won again at the Sigma Series 3 with Price finishing as runner-up.[6] In February, at the Sun City Classic, McNulty looked set to win but a late hole "blunder" gave Lee Trevino the victory.[7] The following week, Price finally won, earning a victory at the SAB South African Masters by four shots over McNulty.[8] At the final event of the year, the Asseng Champion of Champions, Denis Watson claimed his first victory on tour. McNulty finished solo second.[9] McNulty won the Order of Merit with Price coming in third and Watson fifth.[10]
Schedule
The following table lists official events during the 1980–81 season.[11][12]
^The number in brackets after each winner's name is the number of Southern Africa Tour events they had won up to and including that tournament. This information is only shown for Southern Africa Tour members.
^"Verwey banned for wrong marking". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 9 February 1981. p. 30. Retrieved 22 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Price beats gale and field for title". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 16 February 1981. p. 24. Retrieved 22 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Watson earns his maiden victory". The Daily Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. 2 March 1981. p. 26. Retrieved 22 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
