Ping signs Brandon Stone

Talented young South African Brandon Stone has signed a multi-year equipment deal with Ping

Brandon Stone

Talented young South African Brandon Stone has signed a multi-year equipment deal with Ping.

Stone will play his first event at the European Tour's BMW International Open in June after a successful freshman year at the University of Texas.

In 2013, he was the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, the Newcomer of the Year, the NCAA Freshman of the Year and the Big 12 Conference individual champion.

Stone - also a Ping first team All American - was ranked by Golfweek magazine as the number two collegiate men's golfer.

"Brandon is a wonderful example of a young man coming up through PING's amateur program, which reaches into ever corner of the world to identify and develop talent," said John Solheim, Ping's Chairman and CEO.

"He has incredible skills but on top of that he has a great work ethic, and his determination makes him very tough to beat."

Over the past four years, Stone has notched 18 victories in the USA and his native South Africa.

The 5'11" Pretoria Native, who has only ever player with PING clubs, added: "Becoming a pro golfer is something I've dreamed of since I was a young boy.

"PING has supported me for years and I know they'll help make the transition as smooth as possible.

"I'm excited to compete with the best players in the world and to be an official member of the Ping family."

Stone will wear a PING hat, carry a Ping staff bag and play a minimum of 11 Ping clubs, including a driver and putter.

Nick Bonfield
Content Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, commissioning and feature writing. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x