Daniel Cronje was pleased to shoot a round of 67 in Tuesday’s opening round of the 6th Betway Big Easy Tour event at Krugersdorp Golf Club.
“I’m very happy,” said Cronje after his round. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a good start so I am very happy with my performance today. I took a three-week break from the game; this is my first tournament back.
“I was struggling and the game felt like it wasn’t in a good place; maybe I was over-golfed. A rest was needed and I feel more refreshed now and hoping to now keep going with this momentum.”
Cronje’s 67 consisted of six birdies and a solitary drop.
Tied for the lead alongside Cronje is Jordan Wessels who would have been disappointed with his finish. Wessels was nine-under through 14 holes but made bogeys on all four of his remaining holes to post a round of 67.
Glenvista Country Club’s Louis Liebenberg’s four-under 68 gave him something to smile about as he, by his own admission, has had to endure a few struggles over the course of the campaign. His round was made up of six birdies and two bogeys to leave him one shot off the early pace.
“I am a little bit surprised because I haven’t been showing signs of great golf lately,” Liebenberg remarked. “Today, I just told myself to stick to my process, take it shot for shot, and not worry about the future on anything like that; just try to enjoy it.
“The greens were a little bit quick and firm as well so you definitely didn’t want to have little awkward wedge shots because it’s really hard to stop the ball. It’s a tough track this week.” He is solo third on the leaderboard.
Sunshine Tour rookie Charl Barnard occupies the fourth spot after an opening three-under-par 69 while the big-hitting Christian Kriek, Wandre Snyman, and Hannes Strooh share fifth after rounds of 70 on day one.
Amateur Dylan Kayne is in a eight-way share of the eighth position, thanks to a round of 71 on Tuesday.
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:
67 - Daniel Cronje
67 - Jordan Wessels
68 - Louis Liebenberg
69 - Charl Barnard
70 - Christian Kriek
70 - Wandre Snyman, Hannes Strooh
71 - Dillon Germshuys
71 - Rigardt Albertse, Ruben Van Der Berg, Dylan Kayne, Leon Vorster, Haydn Driver, Thabiso Ngcobo, Keegan Mclachlan
72 - Joshua Koekemoer
72 - Khanya Mkhize, Oliver Goldhill, Werner Deyzel, Carl Mwale, Josh Hirsch, Kayle Wykes, Travis Procter, Vaughn van Deventer, Jaco Anderson, Grant Ferreira
73 - Ruan Groenewald
73 - Ethan Gough, Tristan Leonard, Daniel Smith, Brandon Gildenhuys, Jason Froneman, Jonathan Wilsenach, Jaden Deltel, Makhetha Mazibuko, Jastice Mashego
74 - Luke Truter
74 - Ryan Tipping, Teboho Sefatsa, Minjun Heo, Philip Geerts, Matthew Dennis, Richard Shi, John Bele, Jan-Hendrik Nieuwoudt, Marcel Steyn Scholtz, Franklin Manchest, Sentanio Minnie, Sean Cronje
75 - Wiehan Van der Walt
75 - Callum Mowat, Simon du Plooy, Ruan de Smidt, Cole Stevens, Karabo Mokoena, Joe Knox, Therion Nel, Tyron Davidowitz, Francois van Staden, Shaunak Rama, Manav Mohanlal, Leon Visser, Pascal Gunther, Shaheed Patel, Matthew Mortimer
76 - Lyle Pedro
76 - Kael Strydom, Travis Ladner, Slade Pickering, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Daniel Palmquist
77 - Brandon-Jude Rennie
77 - Matthew Bennett, Noel Anderson, Jacquin Hess, Lwazi Gqira, Otto Van Buynder, Umar Davids, Sean Howell, Ulrich van den Berg, Drikus Joubert, Eric Wowor, David Waschefort
78 - Zachary Chegwidden
78 - Danie Van Niekerk, Shaydon Johnson, Nicko Venter, Shalan Govender, Kyle Kistensamy, LB Boshoff
79 - Thabang Simon
79 - Brandon-Lee Geere, Alphius Kelapile, Jaydon Galant, Sergio Arries
80 - James Truter
80 - Kian Coetzer, Vuyisani Makama, CJ Van Wyk, Sipho Bujela, Robert Mavundla
81 - Mark Maart
81 - Tumelo Molloyi, Jake Bolton
82 - Chandler Shaw
82 - Yusuf Dadoo, Mandla Dlamini Jnr, Steven Le Roux, Maheshan Naidoo, Khaya Jika
85 - Ricco Motsa
87 - Keelan Africa
87 - Jarryd Govender