SA golf teams for Rio confirmed

Cape Town - South Africa's first ever golf teams for the Rio Olympics have been named.

Following withdrawals by leading lights Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Lee-Anne Pace, Jaco van Zyl and Brandon Stone will represent the country in Rio, while on the women's side, Paula Reto and Ashleigh Simon will battle for the gold, silver and bronze medals.

Van Zyl is currently ranked 67th in the world, while Stone, the reigning SA Open champion, finds himself at 92nd.

Reto is the 122nd best golfer in the LPGA rankings, with Simon at 214th.

The men's competition is scheduled for August 11-14 and the women's for August 17-20.

SA's greatest ever golfer, Gary Player, will captain the teams in Brazil.