Blast from the past: Locke wins his fourth and final British Open

Today in SA sports history: July 5

1912 — England-born duo Charles Winslow and Harry Kitson, who had been crowned Olympic doubles champions the day before, face off for the singles title of Stockholm 1912. Watched by the king of Sweden, 23-year-old Winslow beats Kitson, 15 years his senior, 7-5 4-6 10-8 8-6 to become the first South African to win two gold medals at a single Games. The next time would be 84 years later, by swimmer Penny Heyns at Atlanta 1996. The men’s tennis singles competition was one of two events where SA took gold and silver in Stockholm, with the marathon runners repeating the feat more than a week later. 

1957 — Bobby Locke wins his fourth and final British Open crown to end the winning streak of Australian Peter Thompson. The South African scored a nine-under-par 279 over the St Andrews Old Course to see off Thompson, who had won the three previous editions, by three shots.

1997 — The Springboks score four tries to beat the British and Irish Lions 35-16 in the final third Test at Ellis Park. Centre Percy Montgomery, wingers Pieter Rossouw and Andre Snyman and scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen dotted down for SA, who lost the series 1-2.

2003 — Herschelle Gibbs scores an unbeaten 93 from 97 balls to steer the Proteas to a nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe in an ODI in Cardiff. SA achieved the winning runs in the 35th over of the match, part of a triangular also featuring England.

2008 — The Springboks’ winning streak of 13 matches comes to an end as they lose 8-19 to the All Blacks in a Tri-Nations match in Wellington. Wing Bryan Habana scored SA’s only try.

2015 — Captain Faf du Plessis scores an unbeaten 79 from 61 balls as the Proteas beat Bangladesh by 52 runs in the first T20 in Dhaka.