European Tour

Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open

July 12-15

Gullane Golf Club, East Lothian

$7,000,000

July 12-15

Gullane Golf Club, East Lothian

$7,000,000

Round 4

Stone rolls into record books in Scotland

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

July 15, 2018

South Africa's Brandon Stone equalled the lowest round in European Tour history to win the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, the fifth Rolex Series event on the 2018 Race to Dubai.

- Getty Images

The 25 year old became the 18th player to shoot 60 – Darren Clarke has done it twice – and the fourth to do so on a Sunday on their way to lifting the trophy.

Stone's scintillating ten under par effort at Gullane Golf Club got him to 20 under par for a four-shot victory. He began the final round three shots off the lead but turned in 31 and picked up birdies on the tenth, 12th, 14th and 15th before holing a curling eagle putt from 30 feet on the par-five16th. His round was was almost one better, but he missed from seven feet on the last for what would have been the first 59 on the EuropeanTour.

“Obviously the wedge shots on 15 and 16 were quite pivotal, gave myself fantastic opportunities there. And then 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."

He has now won in three consecutive seasons and becomes the second South African to clinch a Rolex Series title, following Branden Grace's victory at the 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player.

“It's been a long 18-month journey, making a few changes, but the swing felt incredible today. The putting felt even better, the mental state was flawless. So, a day where you're shooting 60 and winning the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open is something I'm going to hold dear to my heart for a long time."

To round off a super Sunday on the links he also booked his place at next week's Open Championship in Carnoustie, alongside runner up Eddie Pepperell who raced to the turn in 30 and briefly led by two shots before Stone's barrage of birdies, and Sweden's Jens Dantorp, who finished on 15 under par alongside South African Major winner Trevor Immelman and American Luke List.

“We are now playing at Carnoustie, and that golf course can humble you very quickly. So I'm under no elusions I'm going to have to do my preparation correctly. I'm going to hopefully get in there tomorrow. Hopefully I can find accommodation, if I'm going to be honest. I wasn't exactly planning on going through. But it was a fantastic week this week, and hopefully I can build on this and get a few more results.”

2015 champion Rickie Fowler of the United States, Belgian Thomas Pieters and New Zealand's Ryan Fox finished one shot further back.

Stephen Gallacher was the highest placed Scottish finisher as he and 2014 winner Justin Rose joined a group of five players on 13 under par.