2023 Jonsson Workwear Open Preview, Picks & Analysis

BRANDON STONE attempts to get his career back on track at the Jonsson Workwear Open.

The South African is a three-time winner on the DP World Tour. He claimed the South African Open and Alfred Dunhill Championship in 2016 and the Scottish Open in 2018.

Sadly, the 29-year-old no longer has playing privileges on the DP World Tour, having lost his card.

His last victory came on home soil in 2021 at the Limpopo Championship, co-sanctioned by the Challenge Tour and Sunshine Tour.

Stone was earmarked as a future star early on during a stellar amateur career - particularly in the American collegiate ranks where he was named the 2013 NCAA Freshman of the Year while representing the University of Texas. He won three times while at University and represented South Africa at the Eisenhower Trophy in 2012.

Stone played on the Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour in 2015. He finished 14th on the Challenge Tour rankings, aided by second-place finishes at the Kenya Open and GANT Open and graduated to the DP World Tour. In November 2015, he earned his first professional win at the Sunshine Tour’s Lion of Africa Cape Town Open.

In January 2016, in only his second DP World Tour start as a full member, Stone won the South African Open. He seemed to have the world at his feet. 

He won the 2018 Scottish Open at Gullane with a final-round 60, tying the European Tour record, after narrowly missing a birdie putt on the final hole that would have given him a 59.

Stone comes from a strong golfing background - his father, Kevin, is an experienced Sunshine Tour player and the national coach for the South African amateur junior team, while his grandfather, Sam, also played for his country.

He counts Ernie Els as a close family friend and has frequently benefited from advice from the four-time major winner. But it is fair to say that Stone has lost his way. And it is a mystery as he possesses one of the sweetest swings in golf.

Keep an eye on Zander Lombard this week. Having lost his card, he regained his playing privileges by winning Qualifying School Final Stage in 2018 - an accolade he shared with Alejandro Cañizares after the pair finished in tied first place.

He came close to a maiden European Tour title at the 2017 Rocco Forte Open but lost out to Alvaro Quiros in a two-hole play-off. Had three top five finishes in 2016, including runner-up at the Joburg Open, earning him a place in The 2016 Open Championship.

Born in Pretoria, he turned professional in 2014 after an excellent amateur career that saw him represent South Africa twice in the Eisenhower Trophy, win several events in his homeland, and finish runner-up to Bradley Neil in the 2014 Amateur Championship.

He has shown some decent form in 2023, finishing joint runner-up at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, tied sixth at the Singapore Classic and tied 17th at the Thailand Classic.

Tournament Winners

It was won last year by JC Ritchie with a score of 260, 26 under par. He opened with a round of 61.

Form Guide

Zander Lombard has shown some superb recent form on the DP World Tour, nearly winning the  Ras Al Khaimah Championship, and he usually performs well on home soil. And last year’s winner, JC Ritchie, will return with lots of positive memories.

The Course

The Club at Steyn City is a par 72 measuring just 6,600 yards so you can expect to see some spectacularly low scoring. It has 75 bunkers and several water hazards and features plenty of elevation changes.

To Win:

Zander Lombard. In form

Each Way:

Thriston Lawrence. Loves playing on home soil

Each Way:

Brandon Stone. Looking for a way back

Five to Follow:

Zander Lombard. Underrated

Thriston Lawrence. Becoming a serial winner

Brandon Stone. Fabulous golf swing

JC Ritchie. Can go low - really low

Shaun Norris. Big hitter