Staff WriterDean Burmester is heading back to where it all began. The South African big-hitter has confirmed he’ll tee it up at November’s Fitch & Leedes PGA Championship, bringing his trademark firepower to St Francis Links as part of his commitment—along with his Stinger GC teammates—to strengthen one of the Sunshine Tour’s crown-jewel events.
Burmester, alongside Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace, is part of the Stinger GC quartet that’s not just showing up—they’re digging in. The team has played a key role in boosting the prize fund for this year’s Championship to a healthy R3 million, ensuring the second-oldest professional tournament in South Africa gets the stage it deserves.
The event, set for 27–30 November, carries a history as deep as a pot bunker at Muirfield, and Burmester has a personal score to settle. He won here in 2021 and now aims to join an elite club of players to have lifted the trophy multiple times.
“I’m very excited to play in the Fitch & Leedes PGA Championship. I have fond memories of winning this tournament in 2021 and it’s always an honour when you can win such a prestigious title on the Sunshine Tour and add your name to a trophy that has the names of some of Southern Africa’s greatest golfers on it. It’s going to be very special to be back there and supporting an event I’ve always held in high regard,” said Burmester.
For Dean Burmester, this isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It’s a homecoming mission—supporting the Sunshine Tour that launched his career and countless others. And it’s a sentiment shared by his Stinger GC captain, Louis Oosthuizen, who’s made it clear the team wants to play a bigger role in driving the Tour’s growth.
“All four of us are homegrown Sunshine Tour players. We all started our careers on this Tour and took the opportunities provided to take our games to the international stage. It’s a privilege now for us to serve as an inspiration for the next generation of Sunshine Tour professionals to do the same, and that’s why we take every opportunity that we can to come home and support the Sunshine Tour.
“The Fitch & Leedes PGA Championship is one of our most prestigious tournaments and I’m proud to have won it twice. I know what it meant for my career. While we’d all like to be able to play in it this year, Dean will be there to represent us. Stinger GC and we as the players look forward to playing our part in the growth of this great event going forward.”
With Dean Burmester carrying the Stinger banner this time around, all eyes will be on St Francis Links as he looks to etch his name into the tournament’s history books once again—this time not just as a past champion, but as a driving force behind its future.
