Oliver Bekker produced a phenomenal 10-under-par 62 to lead the first round of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at Oubaai Golf Estate on Thursday.
Although there was placing in round one, Bekker’s bogey-free round was still just one shot off the joint course record held by course designer Ernie Els and Sunshine Tour professional Jovan Rebula.
“Everything worked today, so it was nice,” Bekker said after his round, which earned him a two-stroke lead over Jean Hugo and Sean Bradley.
On a beautiful day on the Garden Route, Bekker found the form he’s been searching for in a frustrating year thanks to a new set of irons and a new broomstick putter which he’s using for the first time this week.
“I got some new irons on Tuesday and they seem to be working. I got a new broomstick putter in the bag for the first time and I made a few nice putts, so I can’t complain.
“Obviously, I’ve been playing pretty poorly the last while and to now all of a sudden come out and shoot 10 under par gives you a lot of confidence. It came out of nowhere, but I was also quietly confident after I got my new irons. I hit a couple of quality shots with them and was just building momentum on that,” said the eight-time Sunshine Tour winner.
New playing equipment helps @olliebekkergolf sign an opening round 62. 🔥 👏 #VOGFinal #GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/LE7sQn4S2p
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) November 14, 2024
It was a performance that has given Bekker an opportunity to add his name to the illustrious list of champions on the Vodacom Origins of Golf series over the past two decades.
“I hit it good off the tee and I think I missed only one green in regulation. My iron play was really good and that’s been something I’ve been struggling with big time over the last three to six months. So that was nice to see.
“It’s still early days but it’s nice to be out here and in the lead. You can’t win it on the first day but you can definitely lose it. I’m in a good position. There are three more rounds to go and hopefully the weather stays like this, and then I think it will be an enjoyable week.”
HUGO IN A GOOD SPOT
Behind him Hugo’s bogey-free 64 has also put him in a good position to keep building his incredible legacy on this series.
Hugo is hunting a record 13th Vodacom Origins of Golf title this week and won the first tournament on the series this year.
Dean Burmester, also a former winner on this series, opened with a five-under-par 67, while Branden Grace – the winner of the 2012 Vodacom Origins of Golf Final – signed for a two-under-par 70.
SCORES:
62 - Oliver Bekker
64 - Jean Hugo, Sean Bradley
65 - Barend Botha
66 - Stals Swart, Ricky Hendler, Haydn Porteous, Matthew Spacey
67 - Hennie O'Kennedy, Ockie Strydom, Conner Mackenzie, Dean Burmester
68 - Franklin Manchest, Keegan Mclachlan, Yurav Premlall, Heinrich Bruiners, Ruan Korb, Jacob Oakley, Fredrik From, Malcolm Mitchell, Samuel Simpson
69 - Cara Gorlei, Dylan Naidoo, Jaco Prinsloo, Ethan Smith, MJ Viljoen, Graham van der Merwe, Herman Loubser
70 - James Pennington, Jason Roets, Quintin Wilsnach, Peter Karmis, Stephen Ferreira, Louis de Jager, Doug McGuigan, Craig Ross, Merrick Bremner, Karabo Mokoena, Jovan Rebula, Jacques Kruyswijk, Branden Grace, Martin Vorster, Luke Brown, Wynand Dingle
71 - Brandon Pieters, Bryce Easton, Tyran Snyders, Kyle De Beer, Brandon Meads, Callum Mowat, Christopher Long, Keelan van Wyk, Nikhil Rama, CJ du Plessis, Daniel van Tonder, Deon Germishuys, Keagan Thomas, Danielle du Toit
72 - Trevor Mahoney, Kayle Wykes, Francois van Staden, LB Boshoff, Hennie Otto, Jake Roos, Adam Breen, Jacques P de Villiers, JJ Senekal, Jean-Paul Strydom, Luke Jerling, Stefan Wears-Taylor, Gabrielle Venter, Jack Hawksby, Vaughn van Deventer
73 - Pride Sembo, Andre De Decker, Werner Deyzel, Robson Chinhoi, Ruan de Smidt, Rhys West, Sean Cronje, Thabiso Ngcobo, Steven Le Roux, Dylan O'Leary, Ruan Groenewald, Estiaan Conradie, Altin van der Merwe, Combrinck Smit, Ivan Verster, Joe Long, Alex Haindl
74 - Ace Andile Adam, Rourke van der Spuy, Simon du Plooy, Stuart Krog, Dylan Mostert, Christian Kriek, Christiaan Basson, Toto Thimba Jnr, Jake Redman, Jacques Blaauw, Ruan Conradie, Sentanio Minnie, Kyle McClatchie, Therion Nel, Kirby Coe-Kirkham
75 - Lyle Rowe, Richard Kruger, Hayden Griffiths, Jaco Van Zyl, Keenan Davidse, Pierre Pellegrin, Carlo Heunis, Jordan Duminy, Njoroge Kibugu
76 - Gerhard Pepler, David Amm, Christiaan Burke, Jacquin Hess
77 - Pieter Moolman, Martin Rohwer, Bradford Vaughan, Irvin Mazibuko, Danie Van Niekerk, Nick Cunningham, Gary Kemp
78 - James Mack, Travis Ladner, Kyle Barker
79 - Tristin Galant, Brandon Gildenhuys
80 - Otto Van Buynder, Dayne Moore, Regan Steyn, Leon Vorster
81 - Albert Venter, Umar Davids
82 - Kim de Klerk
83 - Lyle Pedro
84 - Shaahid Mahmed
87 - Terence Boardman
96 - Llewellyn Leibrandt