Quick Facts
PiscesBiography
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
- Springbok Colors 4 Times
- 1984 Southern Transvaal Open Strokeplay
- 1986 English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship
Professional wins (9)
Asian 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 Tour playoff record (1–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996 | Royal Thai Classic | Nico van Rensburg | Won 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 Open | –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 |
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 |
Team appearances
- World Cup (representing South Africa): 1999