Zander Lombard took another positive step in his comeback when he opened with a seven-under-par 64 highlighted by an albatross to lead Friday’s first round of the Vodacom Origins of Golf at the Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate.
Lombard only returned to competitive golf in February this year following a near 10-month layoff after a knee injury and surgery.
But on a magnificent day in the Cape winelands, he looked quite at home at the top of the leaderboard following a round that featured an albatross on the par-five 11th.
“The albatross definitely boosted the round. It was such a perfect three wood hit just straight at the flag and which landed about nine metres short of the flag and trickled in. It was cool to see. It’s not every day that happens, and it’s great to have happened on day one of this tournament,” he said.
He leads by two strokes over Altin van der Merwe, and with a strong group of players including Keenan Davidse, George Coetzee, Stephen Ferreira and Yurav Premlall all just three strokes off the lead.
Gabrielle Venter is the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professional after her opening round of two-under-par 69.
CONFIDENCE BOOST
Lombard’s start was a big confidence boost as he continues to build his way back in the game following his injury.
“Since I had my 10 months off with my knee injury, it’s been weird. I’ve been lacking a bit of consistency. But I’ve always felt like I’ve been playing well and just not scoring. To have a low round and get that confidence up, and to see the ball going in the hole and posting a good score is really nice. It seems like it’s all coming together at the right time now towards the end of the year and with some big tournaments to come.”
It's also quite apt that Lombard should be hitting form in this tournament. His lone Sunshine Tour victory to date came on the 2018 Vodacom Origins of Golf series.
“The Vodacom Origins of Golf series really boosted my career. I’ve always enjoyed these events. They look after the players well, and the pro-am before the events are always fun. Vodacom has been part of the Sunshine Tour for so many years, and I love what they do for the Tour and for South African golf.”
SCORES
64 - Zander Lombard
66 - Altin van der Merwe
67 - Keenan Davidse, Yurav Premlall, George Coetzee, Stephen Ferreira
68 - Jacques Kruyswijk, Paul Boshoff, Jaco Prinsloo, Ryan Van Velzen, Louis Albertse, Austin Bautista, Benjamin Van Wyk, Joe Knox, Mikkel Antonsen, Jason Roets, Herman Loubser, Stuart Krog
69 - Kian Rose, Ronald Rugumayo, Marcel Steyn Scholtz, Ryan van der Klis, Neil Schietekat, Jean-Paul Strydom, Estiaan Conradie, Joe Long, Sentanio Minnie, Jordan Burnand, Jack Hawksby, Gabrielle Venter, Kyle Barker, Albert Venter
70 - Dwayne Basson, Danie Van Niekerk, Keagan Thomas, Ethan Smith, Ruan de Smidt, Oliver Bekker, Graham van der Merwe, Allen John, Jake Redman, James Pennington, Ivan Verster, James Mack, Jacques Blaauw, Pieter Moolman, Ruan Korb, CJ du Plessis, Luis Carrera, Keegan Mclachlan
71 - Khaya Jika, Christiaan Basson, Kyle McClatchie, Ruan Conradie, Luke Jerling, Tyran Snyders, Lyle Rowe, Eric Wowor, Hennie Otto, Hennie O'Kennedy, Tristin Galant, Ricky Hendler, Rourke van der Spuy, Rhys West, Robson Chinhoi, Xander Basson, Stals Swart, JJ Senekal, Rupert Kaminski, Samuel Simpson, Dylan Mostert, Gerhard Pepler, Toto Thimba Jnr
72 - Trevor Mahoney, Isabella van Rooyen, Marcus Sandile Taylor, Jason Broomhead, Gregg Upton, Luke Mayo, Heinrich Bruiners, Jacques P de Villiers, Rowan Lester, Gregory Mckay, Slade Pickering
73 - Christian Kriek, Sean Cronje, Nyasha Muyambo, Keanu Pestana, Brandon Meads, Pierre Viallaneix
74 - Charl Barnard, Tristen Strydom, Tomas Gana, Christiaan Burke, Conner Mackenzie, Luke Brown, Zachary Chegwidden, Leon Vorster, Tyron Davidowitz
75 - Matthew Dennis, Ruan Groenewald, Hayden Griffiths, Quintin Wilsnach, Franklin Manchest, Thomas Spreadborough
76 - Peter Karmis, Cara Ford, Richard Kruger, Keelan Africa, Wynand Dingle, Otto Van Buynder, Doug McGuigan
77 - Jordan Duminy, Matthew Spacey, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, Neil Whitehorn, Gavin Vorster, Umar Davids, Liam Grehan, Kyle De Beer, Nick Cunningham
79 - Bronwyn Doeg, Cara Gorlei, Karabo Mokoena, Terence Coutinho, Stian Oosthuizen, M.S. Calitz, Hayden Garcia
80 - Warwick Purchase
83 - Leontine Petit
84 - Tara Baglione