ZIMBABWE’S leading professional golfer Brendon de Jonge has been drawn alongside American Kevin Stadler and Irishman Shane Lowry for the first two rounds of this week’s US Open at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina in the United States.
DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
The US Open, which is the second of the four major championships in golf, gets underway on Thursday with rich prize fund of $8 million, and a winner’s share of $1,44 million.
According to the draw announced by the United States Golf Association (USGA) on Sunday, De Jonge and company will tee off from the 10th tee at 1915 hours (Zimbabwe time) in Thursday’s opening round.
De Jonge made his US Open debut at Pebble Beach in 2010, finishing in a tie for position 33, but is yet to feature in the prestigious championship ever since.
The 33-year-old Harare-born golfer will be hoping to do even better this after putting on a decent outing in his first appearance the US Masters in April.
He finished in a tie for position 37 on his first appearance at Augusta National carding rounds of 74, 72, 76, 73 for a gross total of seven-over 295.
The US Open which has always been traditionally played on very tough golf courses will, however expected to present a completely different challenge altogether for de Jonge.
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De Jonge will head for North Carolina on a decent run of form, making the cut in his last five events including a top 10 finish at the Wells Fargo Championship last month.
Meanwhile, local professional golfer Ryan Cairns managed his first top 10 finish on the Sunshine Tour this season after finishing eighth in the Zambia Sugar Open on Sunday to move into the top 50 on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.
Cairns carded rounds of 72, 70, 76 and 71 at the challenging par-73 Lusaka Golf Club courseto tie for eighth position with South Africa’s Titch Moore, Toto Thimba Jnr, Riekus Nortje and Adilson da Silva of Brazil on 3-under 289.
Cairns finished 10 shots off tournament winner Lyle Rowe of South Africa.
