Stone takes over at the top

Local hope Brandon Stone will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
The 23-year-old South African followed up an opening 67 at Leopard Creek with a six-under-par 66 to take his total to 11 under par.
That left him one shot clear of overnight leader and countryman Charl Schwartzel, who had to be content with a 68, and Englishman Chris Hanson, who shot up the leaderboard courtesy of a 65.
Two more South Africans – George Coetzee and Keith Horne – follow a further shot back on nine under, while the likes of Branden Grace, Benjamin Hebert and Alexander Bjork are tied for sixth on eight under.
Stone opened his round with back-to-back birdies on Friday, and bounced back from a bogey at the fourth with another birdie at the sixth.
He then had to receive some treatment on the course for a back injury, but shrugged it off to make three more birdies and a bogey on the back nine. A closing eagle at the last saw him leapfrog Schwartzel into the lead.
"I woke up this morning and the back was feeling a little bit sore, and then on the range it didn’t really feel too great either," said Stone.
"During the course of the day it progressively got worse and then I had to hit one out of the deep jungle on the right of number eight and really tweaked it.
"I got some really good physio with my trainer on the ninth. I got the back sorted for a few holes there and it held its nerve for the back nine.
"I was swinging with a little bit of pain on the back and still hit some spectacular shots. I missed a few opportunities here and there but I also made some great putts again, so it could have been lower, it could have been higher, you don’t really know but I’m very happy with the 66."
Latest
-
News
‘Investigation concluded’ into the cause of Tiger Woods’ car crash
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the details could not yet be released.
-
News
Resurgent Jordan Spieth feeling confident ahead of Masters challenge
For those not qualified, the Valero Texas Open is the last way to get into the Masters.
-
News
American Nelly Korda taking ‘relaxed’ approach into first major of the season
Korda finished joint runner-up at Mission Hills Country Club last year.
-
News
WATCH: Robert MacIntyre in seventh heaven after securing Masters invite
The young Scot admits he thought it would probably never happen.
-
News
Billy Horschel claims all-American final against Scottie Scheffler in Austin
Scheffler had plenty of crowd support as a native Texan and drew first blood at the Austin Country Club.
-
News
Colin Montgomerie criticises slow play as Horschel and Scheffler reach final
It took Scottie Scheffler and Matt Kuchar four hours and eight minutes to complete their match.
-
News
Tommy Fleetwood’s challenge in Texas ends despite ace
Billy Horschel was one of three Americans to reach the last four in Austin.
-
News
Tommy Fleetwood books quarter-final place in Austin after hole-in-one
The Englishman’s ace at the fourth followed Sergio Garcia’s hole-in-one there on Friday.
-
News
Sergio Garcia hits hole-in-one to reach WGC Match Play last 16
The Spaniard made an ace on the fourth play-off hole to get the better of Lee Westwood.
-
News
Tommy Fleetwood holds off Bryson DeChambeau to progress in Austin
The Englishman had been four up but the match went down the last.