Sean Critton Pappas (19 February 1966 – 7 June 2015) was a professional golfer from South Africa.
Early life Pappas was born in Phalaborwa, South Africa. He is the second oldest of four brothers Craigen (born 1959), Deane (born 1967), and Brenden (born 1970). He attended the University of Arkansas from 1984 to 1987, with Deane and Brenden following him there. Deane and Brenden are both professional golfers who have won on the Nationwide Tour and played on the PGA Tour. Sean turned professional in 1990 and stayed in South Africa playing on the Sunshine Tour and teaching.
As a result of the sporting boycott of South Africa during the apartheid era, the Pappas brothers represented Greece in the European Amateur Team Championship and the Eisenhower Trophy in the 1980s.
Professional career Pappas turned professional in January 1990 and played a few events on the Nationwide Tour in 1991 and 1992. He also shot a 59 in the first round of the Hartland Classic, a T. C. Jordan Tour event in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He did not find much success in his early professional years and moved back to South Africa for the 1993 season. He first joined the Sunshine Tour in the 1993 season. He would win five times on the Sunshine Tour between 1993, when he won his first title, and the 2000 season.
Pappas has earned over R768,000 in his career between 1993 and his most recent season 2002. He has played over 230 events in South Africa and finished in the top-10 over 30 times winning 1/3 of his playoffs.
Pappas had a double-eagle in December 1999 at the Vodacom Players Championship on the 3rd hole at the Royal Cape Golf Club during the 3rd round. He played briefly again in the United States from 1994-95 finding limited success, with two mini-tour wins on the NGA Hooters Tour in 1994. He then moved back to his residence in Phalaborwa. His most recent full season on the Sunshine Tour was in 2002.
In 2010, Sean Pappas became the resident Club Professional at The Ranch Resort Executive Golf Course and AcademyMyPolokwane.com Sean Pappas – officially opened on 22 May by the Premier of Limpopo Province, Cassel Mathale.Premier Cassel Mathale Speech delivered at The Ranch Resort on 22 May 2010 , retrieved 1 July 2010 24.5 km south of Polokwane.
Personal life Pappas died in June 2015 of a heart attack.
Professional wins (7) Southern Africa Tour wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up121 Feb 1993Hollard Royal Swazi Sun Classic−16 (71-64-69-68=272)Playoff Ernie Els215 Nov 1996Lombard Tyres Classic−12 (68-68-68=204)2 strokes James Kingston, Ashley Roestoff, Roger Wessels312 Apr 1997Kalahari Classic−7 (67-73-69=209)1 stroke Justin Hobday, Andrew McLardy, Tjaart van der Walt41 Oct 2000Bearing Man Highveld Classic−16 (68-67-65=200)1 stroke Bobby Lincoln
Southern Africa Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11993Hollard Royal Swazi Sun Classic Ernie ElsWon with par on first extra hole21995Amatola Sun Classic Richard Kaplan, Bobby Lincoln
T. C. Jordan Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up121 Jul 1991Hartland Classic−32 (59-61-64-68=252)6 strokes Steve Ford228 Jul 1991Jefferson Landing Classic−16 (66-64-70=200)4 strokes Jeff Barlow
Other wins (1) 1994 Highveld Classic
Team appearances Amateur Eisenhower Trophy (representing Greece): 1984, 1986, 1988 European Amateur Team Championship (representing Greece): 1985
References
External links
The Ranch Resort Executive Golf Course