BEDMINSTER RECAP: STINGERS CLAIM THIRD PLACE (AGAIN); BURMESTER FINISHES FIFTH

The big-hitting Burmester, who ended the week at the top of the driving distance charts with an average drive of 324.2 yards, closed with a 1-over 72 at Trump National Bedminster to secure his fifth top-10 finish of the season. He tied for third at 4 under with Abraham Ancer and Patrick Reed on the regular leaderboard but lost the tiebreaker to both players, who had better final-round scores.

Playing in the leaders group with major champions Cameron Smith of the Rippers and Phil Mickelson of HyFlyers GC, Burmester hung tough in difficult scoring conditions. His late birdie on 17 enabled the Stinger to jump into a tie for second on the team leaderboard with a counting score of 9 under, but the team lost the tiebreaker to Crushers GC. It’s the third consecutive third-place finish for the Stingers and fifth podium in their last six starts.

Branden Grace was next best for the Stingers, placing sixth after signing off with a 71 that included five birdies and a total of just 27 putts, while Charl Schwartzel wound up in 22nd place after closing with a 72.

Overall, Stinger GC occupies third spot in the season-long team standings and is firmly on track to earn one of the four first-round byes at the season-ending Team Championship in Miami.

Here's a recap of Stinger GC's performance at LIV Golf Bedminster:

DEAN BURMESTER (-4, 5th place)

Burmester, who has led the field in driving distance in three of the last four LIV Golf League tournaments, led the way for the Stingers in round one as he opened with a 2-under 69. The 34-year-old from Zimbabwe racked up a total of four birdies and ended the round ranked third in driving distance with an average of 332.63 yards.

Burmester followed up with a 68 on day two, racking up six birdies in all to end the round in a tie for second place, before dropping back into fifth spot at 4-under after signing off with a 72 highlighted by just three birdies.

"This is a major championship golf course, this is tough," said Burmester, who ranked tied for third in total birdies for the week with a tally of 13. "If you don't drive it really well around here, it's really easy to shoot some numbers."

BRANDEN GRACE (-3, 6th place)

Grace, who has now finished in the top 10 in four of his last six LIV Golf League tournaments, made a solid start at Trump National Bedminster with an opening 1-under 70. He improved with a 69 in the second round to sit six strokes off the pace in seventh place, before a closing 71 lifted him into sixth spot.

The 35-year-old from Pretoria ended the week ranked second for total putts, needing only 81, and tied for seventh for total birdies, with 11.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL (+1, 22nd place)

Schwartzel, who last week was forced to withdraw from LIV Golf Greenbrier midway through the final round after breaking the big toe on his right foot, made a promising start at Bedminster with a level-par 71 on day one.

The 2011 Masters champion carded another 71 on day two, highlighted by four birdies, before he returned a 72 in the final round to finish in 22nd spot, his best result in his last six LIV Golf League starts.

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN (+5, 36th place)

The Stinger GC captain, who had secured top-10 finishes in two of his last four starts, was unable to maintain that form as he opened with a 4-over 75 in Bedminster. Heading into the week, he occupied 18th spot in the individual standings and was mindful that, with just three regular-season tournaments remaining, he needs to remain inside the top 24 in points to be guaranteed playing privileges for next year.

Though he caught fire on day, shooting a bogey-free 68 that lifted him into a tie for 19th place at 1-over, he fell back in the final round with a 75 that included a double-bogey at the 18th.

STAT REVIEW

Field ranking in parentheses

Fairways Hit

Burmester – 25 (T32)

Grace – 29 (T11)

Schwartzel – 20 (T45)

Oosthuizen – 29 (T11)

Driving Distance Avg.

Burmester – 324.2 (1)

Grace – 289.8 (39)

Schwartzel – 291.4 (35)

Oosthuizen – 297.8 (24)

Greens in Regulation

Burmester – 36 (T21)

Grace – 32 (39)

Schwartzel – 35 (T30)

Oosthuizen – 37 (T13)

Total Putts

Burmester – 87 (T11)

Grace – 81 (2)

Schwartzel – 89 (T18)

Oosthuizen – 90 (T24)

Total Birdies

Burmester – 13 (T3)

Grace – 11 (T7)

Schwartzel – 9 (T20)

Oosthuizen – 11 (T7)