James Kingston

Kingston was born in Ottosdal, South Africa. He turned professional in 1988 and was a member of the European and Sunshine Tour. He has also competed on the Asian Tour, where he collected four tournament victories.

Kingston has been playing on the Sunshine Tour for the last 26 years. Since his debut season in 1991, James has never finished outside the top 25 on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit. In that time, he has won 10 events, including his most prized victory, the 2008 edition of the South African Open at Pearl Valley. James has also spent time on the European (where he is currently a member) and Asian Tours (where he has won four times). Victory at the Sunshine Tour's Vodacom Championship in February 2008 lifted Kingston into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time.

He proved that age is but a number by following up his win at the SA Open with victory at the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Championship, in a playoff against Anders Hansen, at the age of 43. In 2002, James won an Audi TT at the Alfred Dunhill Championship with an amazing hole-in-one. Using a 4-iron, he pulled his tee shot into some trees left of the green: the ball then dropped onto the green and rolled into the cup, earning him instant global fame as the bizarre ace was CNN's Play of the Day. James also has a keen interest in wildlife and nature.

On the European Tour, he has played in 324 events, making the cut in 183. He has been in the top ten 33 times and earned euros 4,489,327.

On turning 50 joined the European Senior and played in 2016.

2016 European Seniors Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 11; top-10 finishes - 4; Euros104,299 (ranked 12th); Best finish, T-3rd Willow Senior Golf Classic.

2017 European Seniors Tour Summary: Tournaments entered - 11; top-10 finishes - 5; Euros117,378 (ranked 11th); Best finish, T-3rd Sharjah Senior Golf Masters.

2018 Notes: Played in 17 Staysure Tour events with nine top-ten finishes. T-4th at the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters, then 4th at the Paris Legends Championship 2 back of winner Gary Orr. He was T-6th at the Farmfoods European Senior Masters and 3rd at the European Tour Properties Senior Classic, 4 shots back of winner Magnus P. Atlevi. He was T-3rd at the WINSTONgolf Senior Open and T-4th at the Shipco Masters. Ended the season 4th at the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters. He finished the year 14th on the Staysure Tour Order of Merit with euro159,569.

2019 Notes: Played in 17 European Legends Tour events with ten top-ten finishes. He was 2nd on the Order of Merit with Euro216,658. Was runner-up four times, Senior Open Hauts de France, Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, MCB Tour Championship - Seychelles, and MCB Tour Championship - Mauritius.

2020 Notes: Was T-37th at the Morocco Champions on the PGA Tour Champions.

2021 Notes: Played in ten European Legends Tour events with five top-ten finishes. He was 4th on the Order of Merit with Euro126,671. He won the Senior Italian Open by a shot over Joakim Haeggman. He was T-3rd at the Farmfoods European Senior Masters, three shots back of the winner, Markus Brier. He was also T-3rd at the Legends French Open, four shots back of the winner Thomas Levet.

2022 Notes: Played in 16 Legends Tour events with ten top-ten finishes and was 1st in the Order of Merit, earning euro306,116. He won the Swiss Seniors Open by three shots over Phillip Price and David Shacklady. He was 2nd at the Riegler & Partner Legends, a shot back of winner Euan McIntosh. Also 2nd at the Italian Senior Open, three shots back of winner Ricardo Gonzalez. Was T-2nd at the MCB Tour Championship - Mauritius, seven shots back of winner Thomas Bjorn. T-3rd at the JCB Championship, three shots back of the winner, Alex Cejka.

2023 Notes: Played in 16 European Legends Tour events with four top ten finishes. Was 2nd at the Swiss Senior Open and won the Italian Senior Open. He finished 3rd in the Order of Merit in 2023.

2024 Notes: Played in 17 European Legends Tour events with six top ten finishes. Was 7th on the order of merit, earning euro235,665. Best finish was 2nd at the Paul Lawrie Matchplay and 2nd at WCM Mexico Senior Open.

2025 Notes: Played in 19 European Legends Tour events with five top ten finishes. Was 8th on the order of merit, earning euro233,716. At the OFX Irish Legends, he shot a final round 66 to win his 4th Legends title, one shot ahead of Keith Horne, Peter Baker, and Darren Fichardt. Was T-2nd at the Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy, six shots back of the winner Peter Baker.

2026 Notes: Was T-47th at the Staysure Marbella Legends.