South Africa’s Brandon Stone claimed an emotional first European tour title on home soil in the SA Open on Sunday.
Stone crumpled into tears after holing out on the 18th green following a tense conclusion to the Tour’s second oldest event.
The 22-year-old had established a two-shot third-round lead, then moved five shots clear before going two behind in the space of seven holes, eventually finishing at 14-under to beat Christiaan Bezuidenhout by two shots.
England’s Daniel Brooks, who had briefly taken the lead, finished a shot further back in third after a bogey at the last.
Regarded as a major prospect in South Africa, Stone became the youngest winner of the event since 1997.
“It’s too good to be true. I’m overcome with emotions at the moment,” Stone said. “There was a lot of ups and downs in that final round but to come out on top at the end is incredible.”
Since the beginning of the Open, it was regularly stopped due to constant rainy weather.
