Burmester punching above his weight class

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SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 28: Dean Burmester of South Africa reacts on the 2nd green during day two of the WGC - HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club on October 28, 2016 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
  • Post published:October 28, 2016

Dean Burmester remained in the top 10 at the WGC-HSBC Champions with a Friday round of 70 in cold and breezy conditions at Sheshan International Golf Club.

It’s Burmester’s WGC debut, yet he looked comfortable in 10th place on the leaderboard, his name sandwiched between Rory McIlroy and PGA Tour rookie of the year Emiliano Grillo.

The South African started on the back nine and made short work of that stretch, where he added birdies 14th, 16th, and 18th. He slowed on the front nine, where a late drop pushed him out of eighth place.

He signed for 70 and a total of six under par to make the weekend tied for 10th with Grillo and Englishman Paul Casey.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama put his incredible ball striking to good use on Friday and shot 65 to reach 13 under par, leaving second-placed Bill Haas and Russel Knox three shots behind.

Francesco Molinari, Richard Bland, Daniel Berger and local hero Xinjun Zhang shared fourth place on eight under par.

Burmester’s career has been on a steady rise since he won on the Sunshine Tour in 2012, but his share of 10th this week is a serious feather in his cap.

He’s mixing it with the best in the world, playing an elite course, and producing the goods. Behind him on the leaderboard are all four major champions from 2016, along with the world number one and two Jason Day and Dustin Johnson.

Even if the weekend goes badly for Burmester, he’s proven that he can compete with the best, rain or shine.