GOLFER Brendon de Jonge was rewarded for his commendable performance at the $8 million PGA Championship at the weekend after jumping six places on the Official World Rankings from position 90 to 84, according to the latest rankings for professional golfers released yesterday.
Report by Daniel Nhakaniso
The US-based Zimbabwean had a good outing on his first appearance at a major championship this season after finishing in a seven-way tie for position 33 at the Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York, on Sunday.
De Jonge carded rounds of 71, 71, 71 and 70 for a 72-hole total of three-over-par 283 to walk away with $38 571,42 and 3, 9 world ranking points for his efforts.
De Jonge was also a shot ahead of current world number one and pre-tournament favourite Tiger Woods, who struggled with his game on his way to finish in a tie for position 40 on three-over-par 284.
He, however, finished 15 shots behind eventual winner, American Jason Dufner, who broke away from the field on the final day to win the event by two strokes after carding 68 in the fourth round, which gave him a total score of 10-under par for the tournament.
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De Jonge was making his first appearance in a major golf championship this year after missing the first three majors, the Masters, the US Open and the British Open Championship.
The former St Johns College student will, however, be happy with his display this year as he managed to improve from last year’s performance when he finished in a tie for 54th position on the final leaderboard on six over par 294.
Meanwhile, US-based amateur golfer Scott Vincent is now Africa’s highest-ranked amateur golfer on the Men’s World Amateur Golf Rankings.
The Virginia Tech University star, who has been in impressive form, is currently ranked a respectable 90th on the amateur rankings and some 66 places ahead of the second highest African player Zander Lombard from South Africa who is on number 156.
US-based junior sensation Sean Crocker is the second highest ranked local player on the rankings on position 454, while Ben Follet-Smith is on number 489.