Brandon Stone thinks Lauri Ruuska could have a bright future after playing alongside the Finnish amateur in the first two rounds of the GANT Open.
Ruuska sat on four under par at the end of round two and is one of several Finns feeding off the home crowds here at Aura GC, with 11 Finnish players making the cut.
Stone himself trails leader Dominic Foos by just one shot going into the weekend but was effusive in his praise for 22 year old Ruuska who is playing in just his third European Challenge Tour event.
“Playing with Lauri was eye-opening,” said Stone. “He’s a great player, he’s really got a lot of good game to him, I was really impressed.
“He never looked flustered, never looked out of control, and it’s very seldom you see that in an amateur playing in a professional event.
“It was the first time he’d played here too, so he didn’t have any inside knowledge of the course for me, but he’s just a solid player.
“His game is suited to any golf course, he hits it long and straight, and he’s got a good putting stroke, so he’s definitely got a bright future in front of him.”
My goal is to win the Road to Oman Rankings - one win and you can make a big leap, so I've got to try to win this weekend
Stone has had three top ten finishes this season including a tie for seventh place at the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI two weeks ago and a runner up finish after losing in a play-off to Haydn Porteous in the season-opening Barclays Kenya Open.
The 22 year old currently sits 13thin the Road to Oman Rankings, with the top 15 graduating to The European Tour, but has loftier ambitions as the season draws into the home straight.
“The goal right now is to win the Rankings,” he said. “If you’re aiming for 15thyou’re setting up for failure, so you have to go for the Number One spot as that added incentive, it’s what we’re all playing for really.
“Right now I’m lying 13thso I’ve got a lot of work to do, but hopefully this week I can finish well and make a big leap up the Rankings – I’ve been playing really good golf for a while now.
“One win on the Challenge Tour is all it takes, the way the prize funds are structured means a win is really rewarded, so I’ve got to try to win this weekend.”
