Brandon Stone has been adapting to becoming an international golfer since winning the SA Open in January, but this week returns to his home course at Mount Edgecombe Country Club for the Sun Sibaya Challenge.
‘It’s always nice to come home and it’s always nice to come to Mount Edgecombe. Having my mother here, who is the GM, makes it a little more appealing to me too,’ said Stone, whose father was a seven-time winner on the Sunshine Tour.
Definitely a mommies boy pic.twitter.com/1tSk4rFKQc
— Brandon Stone (@BrandonMStone) October 21, 2016
The 23-year-old shared 10th place at the KLM Open in mid-September, but has since missed two cuts in his last three starts on the European Tour. He’s enjoyed a watershed season that includes victory at the SA Open, playing in two majors, a sixth-place result at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, and a tie for fifth at the Open de France.
‘The French Open result, playing in The Open and the PGA Championship too – I wanted to play maybe one major but to play both of those it was really special,’ he said of 2016.
Stone currently ranks 38th in the Race to Dubai and qualifies for the Finals Series, which includes the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
‘To have played so well during the year and to earn my spot in the Nedbank, it’s something I’m going to hold very dear to my heart,’ he said. ‘It’s almost like a little bit of a Christmas bonus. I’m hoping that the South African fans come out and support, and I know they’re going to be rooting for the SA boys and hopefully we can bring that gold trophy home.’
The best remedy for his recent missed cuts is a KwaZulu-Natal trip to compete on his home course. The Sun Sibaya Challenge comes at the perfect time for Stone.
‘I thought I’d get some preparation in before I head to the Final Series of the Race to Dubai, so I’m looking forward to a good week,’ he said. ‘The game feels good. It was a little bit rusty during the pro-am and the practice rounds but I’m starting to feel good again and hopefully when I step onto the first box tomorrow I find it all.’
