Fabrizio De Abreu made four birdies and an eagle on his way to a five-under-par 67 score in the opening round of the Altron Big Easy Tour tournament at Akasia Golf Club, taking a one-shot lead.
The Woodhill Golf Estate player displayed maturity early in his round, making four straight pars to ease into the first 18 holes of this 54-hole event.
Once settled and in his zone, the 17-year-old got into his groove and made an eagle on the par-five fifth.
He then gave a shot away on the next hole, but just as swiftly as he'd made that bogey, De Abreu made back-to-back birdies on the eighth and ninth holes to turn in 32.
The start to the homeward nine was almost similar to how he began the front nine, with four pars from 10 through to 13 followed by birdies on 14 and 15, both par-fives.
From there on, De Abreu, ranked 17th on the GOLFRSA Men’s Open rankings, kept things steady and didn’t give away any more shots.
Amateur Fabrizio de Abreu leads the way after carding a round of 67 at Akasia Golf Club during the first round of the 5th #AltronBigEasyTour tournament 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/IIvIS4oQAD
— Altron Big Easy Tour (@bigeasytourgolf) November 6, 2023
“I had a good round out there today,” said De Abreu, one of GolfRSA’s promising future stars.
“I started well and stayed patient throughout the round. I started off nicely – with an eagle on the fifth – and that helped. I just tried to stick to my game plan, which we worked out before the tournament, and at the moment it has worked out well.
“A round like this gives you confidence because there are some really good players on the Big Easy, and to shoot a round like that is special. I believe in myself, and I am happy with the way I conducted myself. The course here suits my game well, but today, I just hit fairways and greens the whole day; solid golf.
“The plan was to play easy golf; hit fairways and greens and stay patient when things are not going my way. If you hit the greens here, the birdies will come. So, I am really happy with how I played and I am hoping to do the same tomorrow.”
Just a shot adrift and after a round of 68, England’s Harry Koning, Ruan Groenwald, Werner Deyzel, Travis Ladner, and member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, Keelan Africa will aim to unseat the young De Abreu as they make a charge for the summit.
So close to taking the share of the lead for Keelan Africa 🤏 📏
— Altron Big Easy Tour (@bigeasytourgolf) November 6, 2023
Africa finished T2 , and one shot off the lead 👏 #AltronBigEasyTour pic.twitter.com/McEWo2wL8m
Also impressive on day one of this Sunshine Tour development circuit was rookie Sabelo Majola, whose 69 on day one landed him in a five-way share of the seventh spot.
Majola has not made a cut in any Altron Big Easy Tour tournament this season, and after Monday’s round, the Royal Durban Golf Club member will enter the second round rejuvenated and hopefully make his first cut since obtaining his playing privileges at the Altron Vusi Ngubeni tournament earlier in the year.
How things stand after the first 18 holes played at Akasia Golf Club 📊#AltronBigEasyTour pic.twitter.com/5JFh5Cr9lm
— Altron Big Easy Tour (@bigeasytourgolf) November 6, 2023
SCORES:
67 - Fabrizio De Abreu
68 - Harry Konig, Ruan Groenewald, Werner Deyzel, Travis Ladner, Keelan Africa
69 - Sabelo Xolani Majola, Matthew Rushton, Johan Theron, Irvin Mazibuko, Dayne Moore
70 - Thabiso Ngcobo, Dylan O'Leary, Stals Swart, Coert Groenewald, Leon Vorster
71 - Andre De Decker, Xander Basson, Ricky Hendler, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Christiaan Heyman, Jason Roets, Carlo Heunis, Ruan de Smidt, Makhetha Mazibuko, Christian Kriek, Marthin Scheepers
72 - Tumelo Molloyi, Carlos Laranja, Mandla Dlamini Jnr, Cameron Moralee, Brandon-Jude Rennie, Therion Nel, Christopher Long, Shaahid Mahmed, Nicholaus Frade
73 - Andrew McLardy, Andre Van Dyk, Evance Vukeya, Philip Geerts, Jaden Deltel, Allister de Kock, Alphius Kelapile, Paul Boshoff, Karabo Mokoena, Jordan Wessels, Warwick Purchase, Jordan Duminy, Reece Mc Kain
74 - Ryan Tipping, Jason Froneman, Jabulane Mabilane, Otto Van Buynder, Henning du Plooy, Steven Le Roux, CJ Levey
75 - Terence Mogapi, Burt Gildenhuys, Francois Van der Walt, Rigardt Albertse, Wade Jacobs, Slade Pickering, Noel Anderson, Ricco Motsa
76 - Shaheed Patel, Zabastian de Jager, Shalan Govender, Regan Steyn, Lwazi Gqira, Slenda Sithebe
77 - Brandon Gildenhuys, Gerard du Plooy, Marno Lange, Basil Wright Jr, Luan Steenkamp
78 - Brandon Moodley
79 - Thabang Simon, Darren Slingers
80 - Londa Mngadi, Lyle Pedro
81 - Elliot Bradley
82 - Adriel Poonan
83 - Mark Maart, Fezekile Kana
84 - Reinhardt Blaauw
RTD - Gerard Moodley