GREENBRIER RECAP: FUN-LOVING STINGER GC FINISHES THIRD

Stinger GC began the week at The Old White Course ranked fourth in the season-long team standings. By the time the tournament was over, they had improved to third.

Dean Burmester was their most successful player, placing eighth on the individual leaderboard at 13 under after opening with a bogey-free, 6-under 64 and then carding a 67 and a 66. Branden Grace (66, 64 and 67) was right behind in ninth, with team captain Louis Oosthuizen a further five strokes back in 28th spot after carding a 65, a 70 and a 67.

"We just try and have fun," Oosthuizen said of his team's laidback strategy this season, especially away from the course. Oosthuizen and his compatriots especially love to bond together while enjoying a braai, the South African equivalent of a barbeque.

"Sort of always been that way when we're together, and when we're on the golf course it's all golf and we focus on what we want to do and achieve. Just the rest of it, we're trying to have a good time, and try and smile while we're playing. I think we just gel really well together, and we don't really get down on each other."

Whenever the Stingers rent a house for the week, Oosthuizen is one of the first in line to act a chef for the team's evening barbeque.

"I do a good braai, and I'm happy to be the chef every time," smiled Oosthuizen, who ended the third round leading the driving accuracy charts with a percentage of 93 after hitting 13 of 14 fairways. "It's always good fun, and it's great for team bonding."

Grace, who is positioned seventh in the current individual points standings for the LIV Golf League season, echoed Oosthuizen's words about the Stingers' relaxed team atmosphere this season.

"It's just amazing how things have progressed this year, how happy we are, how we're enjoying golf, how we're enjoying the environment," said the 35-year-old from Pretoria, whose third-round 62 at the 2017 Open Championship set a record for the lowest score in a major. "It's just great to be here."

There was, however, one bitter note for the Stingers to absorb at LIV Golf Greenbrier. 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel was forced to withdraw from the third round after eight holes due to a toe injury.

Schwartzel, who started on the fourth hole, was 3 over for his round before leaving the course after the 11th hole with a broken toe. His score was not counting for the Stingers at the time.

STAT REVIEW

Field ranking in parentheses

Fairways Hit

Burmester – 18 (47)

Grace – 27 (T29)

Oosthuizen – 34 (T3)

Schwartzel – WD

Driving Distance Avg.

Burmester – 344.0 (1)

Grace – 313.2 (T20)

Oosthuizen – 298.9 (34)

Schwartzel – WD

Greens in Regulation

Burmester – 47 (T4)

Grace – 43 (T17)

Oosthuizen – 42 (T23)

Schwartzel – WD

Total Putts

Burmester – 88 (T22)

Grace – 83 (T5)

Oosthuizen – 90 (T32)

Schwartzel – WD

Total Birdies

Burmester – 16 (T10)

Grace – 15 (T12)

Oosthuizen – 11 (T35)

Schwartzel – WD