Jaden Deltel carded a near-perfect six-under-par 66 on Tuesday to take a slim one-stroke lead in the seventh event of the Betway Big Easy Tour held at Soweto Country Club.
Deltel had a dream start in Soweto, going three-under in his first four holes, thanks to birdies on the first, the third and fourth holes. The Bryanston golfer added another birdie on the ninth to make the turn in 31 and bogey-free.
He made further gains after the turn as he birdied the 10th but went on to drop on the par-five 13th – his only bogey of the round. A par on the next hole settled Deltel after he’d made that drop on 13, then a brace of birdies followed, to seal a round of 66.
“Soweto is in good condition,” admitted Deltel. “But you’ve got to hit it straight over here. Around the greens, you have to be a little bit sharper but I think I did that very well today. I think me and my caddie, Jono, strategised well for this course. The wind picked up on the back nine but I managed it well.”
Hot on Deltel’s heels is England’s Harry Konig and Australia’s Austin Bautista, both of whom have already tasted victory on this Sunshine Tour feeder circuit. Their respective rounds of 67 were characterised by six birdies each and a drop on the par-three seventh.
With 36 holes to play in this 54-hole event, both Bautista and Konig will be eager to maintain the pressure in order to unseat Deltel from the summit. Dillon Germishuys is solo fourth, thanks to a round of four-under 68.
Five players, including Joe Sullivan, Matthew Rushton, Travis Procter, Daniel Cronje and Soweto’s own Irvin Mazibuko share the fifth spot on the leaderboard after they all signed for 69s.
Andre de Decker, Trevor Mahoney, Carl Mwale and veteran campaigner Brandon Pieters make up the top 10 leading players after round one, thanks to rounds of two-under-par 70.
The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.
Scores
66 - Jaden Deltel
67 - Harry Konig, Austin Cherichella
68 - Dillon Germshuys
69 - Matthew Rushton, Travis Procter, Daniel Cronje, Irvin Mosate wa Mazibuko, Joe Sullivan
70 - Andre De Decker, Brandon Pieters, Carl Mwale, Trevor Mahoney
71 - Travis Ladner, Josh Hirsch, Drikus Joubert, Sean Howell, Kian Rose, Jastice Mashego, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Makhetha Mazibuko
72 - Kian Coetzer, Jason Froneman, Khaya Jika, Evance Vukeya, Shaunak Rama, Oliver Goldhill, Wandre Snyman, Ryan Tipping, Jonathan Ackerman, Philip Geerts
73 - Haydn Driver, Mike Maile, Alphius Kelapile, Keagan Crosbie, LB Boshoff, Matt Millar, Jan-Hendrik Nieuwoudt, Brandon-Jude Rennie, Allister de Kock, Tumelo Molloyi
74 - Louis Liebenberg, M-Jay Xaba, Tiago Jorge Swart, Jacques Van der Merwe, John Bele, Leon Visser, Teboho Sefatsa, Slenda Sithebe, Hannes Strooh, Austin Mashego
75 - Tawriq Abrahams, Adam Breen, Tiger Adams, Wade Jacobs, Hayden Garcia, Kael Strydom, Andre Van Zyl, Liam Ross
76 - John Palm, Keelan Africa, Lyle Pedro, Vaughn van Deventer, Andrew McLardy, Jabulane Mabilane, Sipho Bujela, Mark Maart, Brandon Gildenhuys, David Amm, Richard Joubert
77 - Sandy Makume, Jarryd Govender, Kayle Wykes, Therion Nel, Thabang Simon
78 - Reece Mc Kain, Chandler Shaw, Steven Le Roux, Ricco Motsa
79 - Matthew Dennis, Shaheed Patel, Gary Kemp
80 - Khanya Mkhize, Regan Steyn
83 - Thabo Moraba, Njabulo Mlotshwa
86 - Eric Sithole