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Dale Hayes inducted into SA Hall of Fame

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Dale Hayes (Facebook: SA Hall of Fame)
Dale Hayes (Facebook: SA Hall of Fame)

Cape Town - Former South African golfer Dale Hayes was inducted into the South African Hall of Fame in Sun City on Wednesday.

Hayes, who is currently commentating at this week's Nedbank Golf Challenge, became the fourth golfer to be inducted into the South African Hall of Fame.

Hayes has 21 professional wins to his name including four European Tour wins and 13 Sunshine Tour victories.

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 and 290 days, becoming the youngest winner on the European Tour, a record which stood until Danny Lee won the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic.

By 1973, he was fourth on the European Tour Order of Merit, improving to second in 1974 and first in 1975. He also finished in the top four in 1978 and 1979, but played little professional golf after his late twenties.

In expressing his gratitude, Hayes reiterated his lifelong love for golf and his desire to introduce as many people to the game as he can.

"I think it's so important that everybody is given the opportunity of playing this wonderful game. It is the greatest game in the world. When I finally leave the fairway, I want to know I've done my best to get every single person to play this great game of golf," said Hayes, as quoted by the Sun International website.

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.

He is involved in golf course design through a company called Matkovich & Hayes, although he deals only with marketing and public relations. Hayes also works as a public speaker and gives golf clinics.

Other notable SA Hall of Fame inductees include Gary Player, Bobby Locke, Sally Little, Lucas Radebe, Penny Heyns, Jomo Sono, Brian Mitchell, Jacob Matlala and Joost van der Westhuizen.

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