Stone makes ripples to claim coveted trophy
Brandon Stone claimed a seven-shot victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at the prestigious Leopard Creek Country Club on Sunday.
The start of the 2017 European Tour could not have been any sweeter for new Alfred Dunhill Champion Brandon Stone.
The reigning BMW SA Open champion won the prestigious golf tournament, held annually at the Leopard Creek Country Club, on Sunday after four tough days.
“It makes Christmas taste so much better. I think all my family members are excited to see their Christmas presents and this win most definitely sets the tone for the upcoming tour. It was the best last tournament of the year,” Stone said.
At the press conference on Sunday, Stone was not letting the trophy out of his sight. “It feels great. At the start of the week, it felt like my game was coming right.”
Obviously last weeks’ result (Lion of Africa Cape Town Open, where he finished second) sort of kick-started things for me. To have my name on the trophy alongside those big guys is obviously massive for me.”
Defending champion, Charl Schwartzel who was hunting his fifth Alfred Dunhill title, capitulated during the final round (+2) for a final score of 12 under par.
Stone, at the start on the final round, had a three-stroke lead over his nearest rival, Schwartzel, but he pulled away with a final round of four under par 68 to win comfortably with -22.
Stone kept on saying during the week that it was not a walk in the park.
“Yes well. I knew my game plan. I got a few birdies (seven) and a bogey on eight. The back nine got my momentum going. If you ask anyone of my coaching staff, I refer to myself as one of the best bunker players on the tour.”
On the 18th, his caddie, Chris Simmons, handed him his 58-degree wedge. He nearly holed his pitch and was left with a tap-in for the victory. “It was quite funny. As I hit the tee shot, I absolutely flushed it and I was really hoping I wouldn’t.”
For Stone, the holiday season will comprise of hard work preparing for 2017. “I’ll give myself maybe a week of rest and then I’m going to get back into preparation,” he said. “I’ve got a stern task ahead of me with Rory McIlroy coming out for the BMW SA Open.”
