Stone’s near miss in chase for elusive 59
SOUTH African Brandon Stone has won the Scottish Open by four strokes as Australian Scott Hend missed a golden opportunity to qualify for the British Open.
Hend, who went into the final day a shot off the lead, fell short on Sunday. The 44-yearold Queenslander had two birdies and two bogeys in his final round of even par 70.
Hend slipped to tied-14th place, just three shots off a possible qualifying berth at the British Open.
Stone was poised to become the first man to shoot 59 on the European Tour but he could not convert a short birdie putt at the final hole at Gullane Golf Club east of Edinburgh on Sunday.
But a 10-under-par 60 was more than enough to secure his third victory on the tour and his first outside his home country. He finished at 20under 260, four clear of Englishman Eddie Pepperell who carded a final-round 64.
“A day when you shoot 60 and win the Scottish Open is something I’m going to hold dear to my heart for a very long time,” Stone said.
Stone and Pepperell secured late exemptions into the British Open starting at Car- noustie on Thursday. Overnight leader Jens Dantorp of Sweden clinched the third Open berth up for grabs when he tied for third on 15 under with South African Trevor Immelman and American Luke List.
American Rickie Fowler, the champion the last time the Scottish Open was staged at Gullane in 2015, shot 68 and finished equal sixth.