Brandon Grace struggled on his first attempt at the European Tour in 2009, but the talented youngster is looking a lot more comfortable this time around, having already picked up his first European Tour win in the Joburg Open.
Grace took the lead early on the final day, which is when he had to finish his third round because of thunderstorms. He shot a level-par 72 on the final day to take the title, as no-one in any of the final groupings was able to mount a serious challenge. An Englishman, Jamie Elson, gave Grace a bit of a scare, shooting 63 to get to within a shot of the lead.
Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation graduate
The 23-year old is a graduate of the Ernie Els Fancourt Foundation, which recognises and helps nurture talented young golfers, and is the second graduate to win in consecutive weeks after Louis Oosthuizen won the Africa Open.
As mentioned above, this is Grace’s second crack at the European Tour. He earned his card in the 2008 Q-school when he was just 20 years old, but struggled in 2009 and only managed to finish 148th in the Race to Dubai.
He will probably be the first to admit that he was just too young and inexperienced to succeed the first time around, and he definitely seems to have his head screwed on a bit tighter this year.
He comes from a very golf-centric family, being related to fellow European Tour professionals Michiel Bothma and Darren Fichardt, and has a beautiful swing. His technique has even drawn praise from South Africa’s most legendary golfer Gary Player.
Branden Grace amateur career
Grace enoyed a sparkling amateur career winning, among other titles, the 2006 South African Amateur Strokeplay Championship. That earned him an invitation to the 2007 South African Airways Open, where he won the Freddie Tait Trophy after finishing in a tie for 40th place.
After a stellar 2007 he turned professional and joined the European Challenge Tour, where he came close to securing his maiden title as a professional in the Ypsilon Golf Challenge, where he was beaten in a playoff by Seve Benson.
He earned his second chance on the European Tour in by taking the 11th card in Q-school at the end of last year, and is now exempt on the European Tour until the end of 2013.
He is without doubt an incredibly talented golfer, and one to keep an eye on, not just for the future, but for the right now as well.
With this win
• He gains his first European Tour victory in his 50th European Tour event.
• He moves to €220 000 in The Race to Dubai.
• He moves to just outside the top 160 of the Official World Golf Ranking, from 258th.
• He becomes the 30th different South African to win on The European Tour.
• He becomes the 103rd South African victory in European Tour history.
• He becomes the 399th different player to win on The European Tour.
• He gains his largest European Tour prize of €206 050.
• He gains a European Tour exemption until the end of 2013.
• He gains a place in the 2012 Volvo Golf Champions.
• He gains his second victory as a professional.
