De Jonge expected to shine at Sun City

TOP Zimbabwean golfer, Brendon de Jonge will today contest in the US$6,5 million Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, in the Northwest province of South Africa. The competition at the Gary Player Country Club which is an annual men’s professional golf tournament runs up to December 9.

Ranked number 82 in the world, the 34-year-old de Jonge who now lives in the United States of America will tee it up against 30 of the world’s best golf players. Although world number one Rory McLroy and former world number one Tiger Woods will not be on the course, Thomas Bjorn of Denmark who won the competition last season will participate.

For winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge last year, Bjorn secured automatic qualification for Paul McGinley’s 2014 Ryder Cup team. Others on this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge’s start-sheet are fellow Ryder Cup team members-Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Jaie Donaldson and Stephen Gallacher. Sergio Garcia,Ernie Els, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Henrik Stenson, and American Brendon Todd who qualified by virtue of his 42 world ranking are the other participants.

Todd’s participation at the tournament makes him the third American on the field alongside Kevin Na and Brooks Koepka.
Three time winner Els will join De Jonge who finished fifth in last year’s event and Westwood on the course on the opening day of the competition.

First played in 1981, the Nedbank Golf Challenge carries both world ranking points and a huge $1 250 000 top prize.
Zimbabwe has a proud tradition in this competition with four titles in the bag following Marc McNulty’s success in 1986 and Nick Price’s triumph in 1993, 1997, and 1998.

Apart from the top prize, the second placed golfer is guaranteed of $775 000 while the golfer who finishes third takes home $433 000. What makes the competition lucrative is the fact that other golfers outside the top three will be rewarded according to their final placings with the man finishing in the last place receiving a cheque of US$100 000.

De Jonge, who turned professional in 2003 has taken over as Zimbabwe’s flag bearer in international golf with top finishes across the globe. His best finish was a second place at the McGladrey Classic, having finished 13th at the CIM Classic. He finsihed 42nd at the Shrines Hospitals For Children Open before an improved 31st position at the Frys.com Open. – Michael Kariati

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