South Africa's Brandon Stone had the consolation of winning the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and securing a place in the Open after coming agonisingly close to recording the first 59 in European Tour history.

Stone, who was a 1,000-1 outsider at the start of the week, carded eight birdies and an eagle in his first 16 holes at Gullane and needed to play the last two in one under par to break the magical 60 barrier.

But after making a par on the 17th, the 25-year-old missed from eight feet for birdie on the last and had to settle for a brilliant closing 60 to set a clubhouse target of 20 under par which never looked like being matched.

Stone was ranked 69th in the world after a tie for fourth in the Joburg Open in February 2017, but had not recorded a top 10 on the European Tour since and began the week 371st in the standings.

He also began the final round three shots off the lead but covered the front nine in 31 and picked up birdies on the 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th before holing a curling eagle putt from 30 feet on the par-five 16th to set up his shot at history.