Premlal charges to early lead at Modderfontein

Yurav Premlal carded an opening round of 66 to take a slim one-stroke lead in the Betway Big Easy Tour tournament held at Modderfontein Golf Club on Tuesday.

Premlal, a member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, was as meticulous as he was relentless on day one, with his near-perfect six-under-par 66 catapulting him to the summit early on in this 54-hole event.

“It was very consistent the whole day,” said Premlal, reflecting on his effort in the first round. “I hit a lot of greens and I gave myself a lot of chances. I started with birdies on one and two; hit two good iron shots and made up-and-down on one and made a good five-footer on two. I hit a good wedge shot on seven and made birdie there.

Premlal made four birdies and a solitary bogey on the front nine but, with the calmness of a seasoned veteran, avoided any more big numbers when coming homeward as he went around that bogey-free.

“I didn’t hit the best of iron shots on nine,” said the GolfRSA graduate of his bogey on nine. “I think I missed it on the left bunker and I didn’t up-and-down. On the back nine, I played really solidly and I think I hit almost every green. I gave myself a lot of chances. It was a solid day.”

Keenan Davidse who is also a member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class weaved together a solid 67 to share second with Francois Van der Walt and Eric Wowor. Following a short break from golf due to some very personal and tough circumstances which included the loss of his uncle and cousin, the Sunshine Tour player, Davidse, showed his quality and experience against a very tough field on Tuesday.

“I’ve gone through the most in the last couple of months and I just decided to take a short break,” said Davidse. “I’m just glad to be back playing again. This is an interesting golf course; it’s a bit tough but you still need to golf the ball off the tee. I feel my game is still rusty; I hit a couple of bad ones out there and got lucky but I’m chuffed with the way I played.

“But, I’m rolling it nicely; I got a new putter yesterday and that’s pretty good. I also got a new Titleist driver, the new GT2, and that thing flies. And, it’s not going left, so that’s a good thing. So, let’s see what happens over the next two days.”

Van der Walt was also pleased with his performance on day one and will hope to replicate it over the next 36 holes of golf here. The trio of Thanda Mavundla, Makhetha Mazibuko and Jacquin Hess – all members of the Sunshine Tour’s transformation-driven Papwa Sewgolum Class initiative – carded opening rounds of 69 to share fifth on three-under.

Andre De Decker, amateur Christiaan Heyman, Kyke Wykes and State Mines Country Club’s Vaugh van Deventer share the eighth spot on two-under-par with two rounds to go.

SCORES:

66 - Yurav Premlall

67 - Keenan Davidse, Francois Van der Walt, Eric Wowor

69 - Jacquin Hess, Thanda Mavundla, Makhetha Mazibuko

70 - Andre De Decker, Christiaan Heyman, Kayle Wykes, Vaughn van Deventer

71 - Terence Boardman, Steven Le Roux, Ryan Tipping, Judd Sundelson, Tyron Davidowitz, Andrew Williamson, Kyle McClatchie, Michael Kok

72 - Gary Kemp, Jastice Mashego, Jordan Burnand, Siyanda Mwandla, Nikhil Rama, Thabiso Ngcobo, Warwick Purchase

73 - James Kamte, Werner Deyzel, Karabo Mokoena, Eugene Du Plessis, Amilkar Bhana, Drikus Joubert, Marcel Steyn Scholtz, Philip Geerts, Franklin Manchest, Matthew Rushton, Slenda Sithebe, Samuel Simpson

74 - Shalan Govender, Travis Ladner, Gerard du Plooy, Otto Van Buynder, Dylan O'Leary, Stals Swart, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Ulrich van den Berg, Mutahi Kibugu, Xander Basson, Leon Visser, Khanya Mkhize, Regan Steyn, Paul Boshoff, Lyle Pedro, Joe Knox, Letsoso Letsai, Jaden Deltel, Allister de Kock, Christopher Long, Louis Liebenberg

75 - Reece Mc Kain, Ruan Groenewald, Tumelo Molloyi, Simon du Plooy, Malan Potgieter, Jules Helary, Graham van der Merwe, James Pennington, Toto Thimba Jnr, Nicholaus Frade, Harry Konig, Keelan Africa, Slade Pickering

76 - Oliver Goldhill, Umar Davids, Henning du Plooy, Leon Vorster, Irvin Mazibuko, Trevor Mahoney, Thabang Simon, Fabrizio De Abreu

77 - Mike Maile, Gerhard Trytsman, Ruan de Smidt, Therion Nel, Sentanio Minnie, Carlo Heunis, Andrew McLardy, Luke Mayo, Richard Kruger, Erhard Lambrechts

78 - Luke Trocado, Ace Andile Adam, Sabelo Xolani Majola, Tiger Adams, Njoroge Kibugu, Lwazi Gqira, Alphius Kelapile, Dehan Joubert, Jabulane Mabilane, John Bele

79 - Janko van der Merwe, Tyrone Ryan, Aneurin Gounden, Heinrich Bruiners, Christian Kriek, Jason Froneman, Jonathan Waschefort

80 - Eben Spangenberg, Teboho Sefatsa, Kyle Kistensamy

81 - Jordan Duminy, CJ Levey

82 - Mark Maart

83 - Brandon Moodley

84 - Llewellyn Leibrandt

85 - Johan Theron

86 - Carlos Losper

88 - Jonathan Williams, Shaydon Johnson

RTD - Keelan van Wyk