Brandon Stone fired a European Tour record-tying 60 at Gullane Golf Club to capture the 2018 ASI Scottish Open.
The 25-year old South African finished his flawless final day with eight birdies and one eagle, good for 10 under, and a four-day score of 20-under par.
Stone nearly became the first player to break 60 on the European Tour, but his seven-foot birdie putt on No. 18 slid left to join seven others who’ve carded 60, including Darren Clarke, a two-timer.
Stone’s consolation, though, wasn’t too shabby: a Rolex Series trophy, a check for $1.16M, and one of the three tickets to Carnoustie for this week’s 147th Open Championship.
“It’s incredible,” Stone said. “If I’m going to be brutally honest, I had no idea what my score was until I walked on to the 18th green.
“It was just one of those days where everything went well, hit it great, holed some beautiful putts, and obviously to walk away with 60 having missed an eight-footer was a slight disappointment, but I won’t really complain.
“My caddie came up to me and said, you don’t get putts like this too often, so I let him read it. I said as we walked on the green, I’m not reading this one. This is completely up to you.
“I rolled it over his mark, but he did criticize my pace, he said it lacked a little bit of pace. So he probably is right. Didn’t hold its line, but we’ll take it.
“The putt on 16 is pretty much where you could say the tournament was won for me. I felt great. I knew I just needed to make three more good swings, and when that thing went home, the emotions came flooding in. I had to really struggle to keep it in. Hopefully I can find accommodation (for the Open)!”
Englishman Eddie Pepperell carded a 64 to finish solo-second at 16 under, and secure the second invite to the Open, while overnight leader Jens Dantorp (68) was awarded the third and final spot after finishing T3 at 15 under, alongside South Africa’s Trevor Immelman (65) and American Luke List (64).
Rickie Fowler shot a 2-under 68 to join Belgian Thomas Pieters (66) and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox (68) at 14-under par.
2018 ASI SCOTTISH OPEN
FINAL TOP 10
POS-PLAYER-SCORE (TODAY)
1. Brandon Stone -20 (-10)
2. Eddie Pepperell -16 (-6)
3. Jens Dantorp -15 (-2)
3. Trevor Immelman -15 (-5)
3. Luke List -15 (-6)
6. Rickie Fowler -14 (-2)
6. Ryan Fox -14 (-2)
6. Thomas Pieters -14 (-4)
9. Aaron Rai -13 (-2)
9. Stephen Gallcher -13 (-4)
9. Dean Burmester -13 (-3)
9. Justin Rose -13 (-3)
9. Tyrrell Hatton -13 (-2)
NOTABLES
POS-PLAYER-SCORE (TODAY)
14. Matthew Fitzgerald -12 (E)
19. Charley Hoffman -11 (-2)
19. Danny Willett -11 (-4)
23. Haotong Li -10 (-2)
23. Patrick Reed -10 (-3)
30. Ian Poulter -9 (-1)
32. Lee Westwood -8 (-1)
42. Cameron Smith -7 (-2)
42. Kiradech Aphibarnrat -7 (+1)
49. Russell Knox -6 (+5)
63. Graeme McDowell -3 (+1)
EARLY-ROUND POSITIONING
Stone opened with a 70 to sit T97, but carded a second-round 64 to move inside the top 30, heading into the weekend. A 66 on moving day bumped the South African to T11 – just three back, and part of the chasing pack on Sunday.
1. Luke List -7 (63)
2. Robert Rock -6 (64)
2. Rickie Fowler -6 (64)
2. Jens Dantorp -6 (64)
2. Scott Fernandez -6 (64)
2. Lee Westwood -6 (64)
97. Brandon Stone E (70)
ROUND TWO
1. Robert Rock -13 (64-63)
2. Tyrrell Hatton -11 (65-64)
2. Jens Dantorp -11 (64-65)
26. Brandon Stone -6 (70-64)
ROUND THREE
1. Jens Dantorp -13 (64-65-68)
2. Rickie Fowler -12 (64-66-68)
2. Marcel Siem -12 (66-67-65)
2. Alexander Bjork -12 (67-64-67)
2. Matthew Fitzgerald -12 (68-66-64)
2. Scott Hend -12 (66-69-63)
2. Ryan Fox -12 (67-68-63)
11. Brandon Stone -10 (70-64-66)
ROUND FOUR
1. Brandon Stone -20 (70-64-66-60)
2. Eddie Pepperell -16 (67-63-70-64)
3. Trevor Immelman -15 (68-64-68-65)
3. Jens Dantorp -15 (64-65-68-68)
3. Luke List -15 (63-69-69-64)
STATS: HOW BRANDON STONE SCORED THE WIN
Driving: 326.3 (5th)
Fairways: 28/56, 50.0% (32nd)
Greens: 54/72, 77.8% (13th)
Par-3 Scoring: -5 (5 Birdies, 11 Pars)
Par-4 Scoring: -10 (13 Birdies, 32 Pars, 3 Bogeys)
Par-5 Scoring: -5 (1 Eagle, 3 Birdies, 4 Pars)
Total Scoring: -20 (1 Eagle, 21 Birdies, 47 Pars, 3 Bogeys)
