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De Jonge eyes strong finish

Sport
UNITED STATES-based Zimbabwean golfer Brendon De Jonge will be hoping for a strong finish this season when he takes part in the McGladrey at the Classic Seaside Course in Sea Island, Georgia, starting today.

UNITED STATES-based Zimbabwean golfer Brendon De Jonge will be hoping for a strong finish this season when he takes part in the McGladrey at the Classic Seaside Course in Sea Island, Georgia, starting today.

Report by Daniel Nhakaniso

The McGladrey, which has prize money of $720 000, is the penultimate tournament of this year’s PGA Tour season. De Jonge, who this year enjoyed one of his most successful seasons on the PGA Tour since turning professional in 2003, will be hoping to sign off on a high and improve on his current 41st position on the FedEx Cup rankings.

The burly Harare-born golfer, who is currently ranked 98th on the Official World Golf Rankings, has fashioned some decent performances this year, earning a staggering $1 800 464 from 29 events he has played.

This season he posted five top-12s and in his most recent start on the PGA Tour he came agonisingly close to picking up his maiden win after finishing second at the Las Vegas Open.

Currently, De Jonge is on course to secure one of the spots in the 2013 International Presidents Cup team and a solid finish to his season will only strengthen his chances of claiming one of the spots in the 12-man team.

Qualifying for the Presidents Cup will be a dream-come-true for De Jonge as it would give him a chance of playing under the tutelage of his compatriot, mentor and childhood idol Nick Price, who will captain the internationals’ team.

De Jonge told golfchannel.com he was privileged to have someone like Price in his corner. “It’s nice to be able to pick up the phone and call someone who is that accomplished,” De Jonge said earlier this week of Price. “He’s so straightforward. He will give me a kick in the butt when I need that.”

Meanwhile, on the Sunshine Tour, local golfer Micky Hough will join compatriot Ryan Cairns in the BMG Classic main field today after securing one of the 20 slots during the prequalifying event Glendower Golf Club in South Africa yesterday.

Unlike Cairns who qualified automatically for the tournament, Hough had to go through the pre-qualifier yesterday and successfully made the cut after finishing in a tie for eighth place on four-over-par 76.