Dale Hayes (born 1 July 1952) is a South African professional golfer.
Amateur career In 1969, Hayes won the 15–17 Boys category at the Junior World Golf Championships.
In 1970, during his last year as an amateur, Hayes won the South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship as well as the Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship, still 17 years old.
Professional career In 1970, Hayes turned professional. On December 6, 1971, Hayes won the Bert Hagerman Invitational on his 19th birthday, his first win on tour. Overall, Hayes won more than a dozen events in South Africa, leading the Southern African Tour's Order of Merit in 1972/73. He also finished as runner-up on the Order of Merit in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1979. In 1974, he won the World Cup of Golf for South Africa in partnership with Bobby Cole.
In 1971, Hayes won the Spanish Open at the age of 18 years. In 1973, he was fourth on the European Tour Order of Merit, improving to second in 1974 and first in 1975. He played on the PGA Tour in 1976 and 1977, with a best finish of tied for second at the 1977 Florida Citrus Open. He also finished in the top four on the European Tour's Order of Merit in 1978 and 1979, but played little professional golf after his late twenties.
Since he stopped playing tour golf, Hayes has remained involved in the sport in a variety of ways. He has worked as a broadcaster in South Africa and for the Golf Channel, started and edited a golf magazine and helped to found an internet golf shopping business. He is involved in golf course design through a company called Matkovich & Hayes, although he deals only with marketing and public relations, while the actual design is handled by his business partner Peter Matkovic, a professional golfer. Hayes also works as a public speaker and gives golf clinics. Awards and honors
In 1972-73, Hayes won the Southern Africa Tour Order of Merit. In 1975, Hayes was the European Tour Order of Merit winner.
Amateur wins 1969 World Junior Championship (Boys 15–17), South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship, German Amateur Championship, Brazilian Amateur Championship 1970 South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship
Professional wins (23) European Tour wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up120 Jul 1975Swiss Open−7 (68-69-66-70=273)1 stroke Tienie Britz, Bernard Gallacher, Gary Player27 May 1978Italian Open +5 (74-72-68-79=293)3 strokes Vin Baker, Tommy Horton315 May 1978French Open−19 (66-69-67-67=269)11 strokes Seve Ballesteros422 Apr 1979Spanish Open−10 (70-75-67-66=278)2 strokes Brian Barnes
European Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11979Italian Open Brian BarnesLost to birdie on fourth extra hole
Southern Africa Tour wins (14) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up14 Dec 1971Bert Hagerman Invitational−22 (66-66-66-68=266)5 strokes Hugh Baiocchi27 Jan 1973Holiday Inns Open−8 (69-67=136)1 stroke Trevor Wilkes317 Feb 1973Corlett Drive Classic−14 (68-72-69-65=274)2 strokes Comrie du Toit424 Feb 1973Schoeman Park Open−10 (72-71-66-69=278)5 strokes Dave Wren59 Dec 1973Rhodesian Dunlop Masters−13 (69-68-68-70=275)2 strokes Allan Henning615 Dec 1973Rolux Open−21 (64-67-68-68=267)7 strokes Harold Henning723 Feb 1974Holiday Inns Open−19 (64-68-67-70=269)2 strokes Bob Charles816 Nov 1974Beck's PGA Championship−9 (68-65-69-69=271)1 stroke Gary Player929 Nov 1975Beck's PGA Championship (2)−14 (66-71-62-67=266)6 strokes Allan Henning106 Dec 1975Holiday Inns Open (2)−13 (69-75-66-65=275)Playoff John Fourie1131 Jan 1976BP South African Open−1 (75-69-71-72=287)Playoff John Fourie1220 Nov 1976Sportsman Lager PGA Championship (3)−14 (68-66-66-66=266)1 stroke Gary Player1318 Nov 1978ICL International−15 (65-65-66-69=265)Playoff Hugh Baiocchi1415 Dec 1978Kronenbrau Masters−13 (67-72-66-70=275)Playoff Tienie Britz
Southern Africa Tour playoff record (4–2) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11973General Motors International Classic Hugh BaiocchiLost to par on second extra hole21975Holiday Inns Open John FourieWon with par on fourth extra hole31976BP South African Open John FourieWon 18-hole playoff;Hayes: −3 (69),Fourie: E (72)41976Holiday Inns Invitational Hugh BaiocchiLost to par on fourth extra hole51978ICL International Hugh BaiocchiWon with par on third extra hole61978Kronenbrau Masters Tienie BritzWon with birdie on third extra hole
Other wins (5) This list is incomplete. 1971 Spanish Open 1974 Coca-Cola Young Professionals' Championship, World Cup (with Bobby Cole) 1975 T.P.D. Young Professionals' Championship 1980 Columbian Open
Results in major championships Tournament1969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981Masters TournamentCUTT19CUTThe Open ChampionshipCUT17CUTT39CUTT32T48T11CUTT38CUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1972 Open Championship) "T" = tied Note: Hayes never played in the U.S. Open or the PGA Championship.
Team appearances Amateur Eisenhower Trophy (representing South Africa): 1970
Professional World Cup (representing South Africa): 1974 (winners), 1976 Datsun International (representing South Africa): 1976 (winners)
See also
Fall 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
References
External links
Matkovich & Hayes Golf Course Architects Hayes, Matkovich and Associates Golf Estate Development