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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S top golfer Brendon de Jonge came close to winning his first tour title on the US PGA but lost a play-off in the McGladrey Classic in North Carolina over the weekend.
De Jonge’s out together impressive rounds of 68, 64, 69 and 65 for a 14-under-par 266 but could only make the play-off with Streb and Will MacKenzie.

MacKenzie was eliminated on the first play-off hole but, on the par-three 17th, Robert Streb birdied, after an excellent tee shot, to win the tournament which gave him a ticket to the Masters next year.

De Jonge took home US$492 800.

The Zimbabwean was full of praise for the winner.

“What can you do? He hit a great shot,” said de Jonge.

“And, as I said, it’s nice for him to have a birdie. It’s a good way to win the tournament.

“I didn’t birdie the par-five in regulation. I had a very easy bunker shot, but other than that, I didn’t leave much out there.”

De Jonge opened with three straight birdies to get in the hunt, and rolled in two more on the 10th and 12th holes.

He missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the par-5 15th, and a 20-foot birdie chance on the final hole to win the tourney.

The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee congratulated De Jonge for his performance at the weekend.

“Congratulations to Brendon De Jonge on his runner-up finish yesterday in the US PGA McGladrey Classic,”ZOC posted on their Facebook page.