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Stone smashes the competition

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MALELANE, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 04: Brandon Stone of South Africa celebrates victory on the 18th green during the final round of The Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Golf Club on December 4, 2016 in Malelane, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
  • Post published:December 4, 2016

Brandon Stone confirmed his ability to contend at the highest level with a seven-shot victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship on Sunday, where he birdied the 18th for a 22 under par total.

The 23 year old made six bogeys in four rounds at Leopard Creek, where he posted 67, 66, 66, 67 for his second European Tour win, following the SA Open in January this year.

It’s been a watershed year for Stone, who broke onto the scene with a victory at the Sunshine Tour’s Cape Town Open in 2015. Two months later he hoisted the SA Open trophy, and went on to play in the Olympics and the DP World Tour Championship.

He capped off the season by thrashing the field at Leopard Creek this week, where four-time champion Charl Schwartzel stumbled around in 74 on Sunday.

Richard Sterne rose through the pack with a round of 67, claiming second place on his own at 15 under par. Belgium’s Thomas Detry was third on 13 under par, followed by six players in a tie for fourth place on 12 under par.

Stone was the man to watch at Leopard Creek. He kept a cool demeanour while battling his senior countrymen and in the end, coasted to a significant victory.