4 SA golfers added to US Open field

Cape Town - Four more South African golfers have qualified for the 117th US Open at the Erin Hills in Wisconsin next month.

Brandon Stone, George Coetzee, Oliver Bekker and Thomas Aiken qualified after two rounds of the US Open Sectional Qualifying at Walton Heath on Monday.

Nine South Africans took part in the marathon qualifying round with only 15 spots available overall.

Those failing to qualify included Zander Lombard, Dylan Frittelli and Justin Walters - while Tshwane Open winner Dean Burmester and Haydn Porteous withdrew after the first round.

Bekker ended tied fifth on 11-under-par 133 with Stone and Coetzee finishing off tied ninth with a 10-under-par 134.

Aiken was involved in a seven-way tie for 12th place and took part in a playoff for the final four spots. He birdied the second play-off hole to seal his US Open spot.

The four golfers join two-time US Open champion Ernie Els, Charl Schwartzel, Brandon Grace and Louis Oosthuizen, who have already qualified for the major tournament.

Schwartzel went on to Twitter to congratulate the SA quartet saying, "Well done @BrandonMStone @gcoetzeegolf and Thomas Aiken for qualifying for @usopengolf today. See you boys @ErinHillsGolf."

Golf's second major of the year gets underway from June 12-18 at Erin Hills.

Well done @BrandonMStone @gcoetzeegolf and Thomas Aiken for qualifying for @usopengolf today. See you boys @ErinHillsGolf

— Charl Schwartzel (@CA_Schwartzel) May 29, 2017

This funny old game! Last week I missed the cut by miles,today I qualified for my first @usopengolf ?? how could you not love this game!! ??

— Brandon Stone (@BrandonMStone) May 29, 2017

Well it's official! Heading to the #usopen @ErinHillsGolf ! Amazing how things can change in this game. Very blessed!

— Oliver Bekker (@TwisT1010) May 29, 2017