Brandon Stone will make his third appearance in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City from November 8-11.
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The young SA star will be hoping to make it two South African victories in a row at the penultimate Rolex Series event on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai after Branden Grace ended the 10-year local drought at the Gary Player Country Club.
Stone claimed his third European Tour victory – and his first Rolex Series win – in July when he won the Scottish Open in July with a final round of 60. He followed this with a finish of tied 12th in the US PGA Championship, his best result in a Major.
‘I’m delighted to be making my third appearance in the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player. To play in front of your home fans is always special, and particularly at Sun City. The support we get there as South African players is phenomenal,’ said Stone.
Grace’s win last year has inspired Stone to try and add his name to this event’s illustrious list of champions.
‘Last year Branden ended a lengthy drought between South African wins in “Africa’s Major”, and I’d love to follow him and add my name to that list.
‘To be playing in the Rolex Series events on the European Tour ultimately means you are having a good season. My victory in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and then to finish tied 12th in the US PGA Championship is validation of the hard work I have put into my game this season.’
The 25-year-old is currently 13th on the Race to Dubai Rankings, and with two of his three European Tour victories having come on home soil, he will favour his chances at Sun City.
He joins countrymen Grace and George Coetzee as the early confirmations in a field that also currently includes Major champions Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia.
Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images
