It was the perfect start to the new year for Jonathan Broomhead as he opened with an eight-under-par 63 to lead the first round of the Sunshine Tour’s Mediclinic Invitational at the Heron Banks Golf and River Resort on Thursday.
Broomhead, a two-time winner on the Sunshine Tour already this season and well placed in fifth position on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, is one shot ahead of Austria’s Maximilian Steinlechner, and with South Africa’s Simon du Plooy next best on six under par.
Jean Hugo, Jacques Blaauw and Jaco van Zyl also make up a strong trio of experience just three shots off the lead.
This was exactly the start Broomhead was hoping for after he decided to take a good break over the festive season.
“The break was good. I wasn’t in the best mindset at the end of last year because I think it was just a long year with a lot of travel, and after my final tournament at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, I was a bit over golf and needed a break. So I put the clubs away. I moved home the day before Christmas as well. Then when I started practising again I was keen and ready for it,” he said.
'ALWAYS SOME NERVES'
“When you start the year again there are always some nerves. It’s just that feeling of wondering if I’m ready or not, and maybe a little bit of doubt. But as the round went on it was all good.”
His start from the 10th tee certainly confirmed that he was more than ready for the challenge as Broomhead opened with five birdies in his first six holes.
“It was quite cold when we teed off. The wind was up quite a bit as well. But I putted really well. My coach pointed out something in my putting and that’s worked. It’s a tricky golf course because you have to be smart in the way you play it. There are certain holes where you can get into trouble, but there is also a bit of risk and reward in this golf course.”
As he looks to build on this start over the next three days, Broomhead also has an eye on the next few weeks and the great opportunities with the European Challenge Tour and DP World Tour events still to come this season.
“The opportunities we have coming up mean you can have a really good finish to the season. I’ve got a few goals in mind of what I’d like to achieve, and this 63 to start is definitely moving in the right direction. My golf is in a nice place. The positive thoughts are all there.”
SCORES
63 - Jonathan Broomhead
64 - Maximilian Steinlechner
65 - Simon du Plooy
66 - Fredrik From, Jean Hugo, Jacques Blaauw, Jovan Rebula, Jaco Van Zyl, Stefan Wears-Taylor, Wynand Dingle
67 - Joe Long, Daniel van Tonder, Keith Horne, JC Ritchie, Kyle McClatchie, Adam Breen, Tyran Snyders, Callum Mowat, Regan Steyn, Ruan de Smidt, Nick Cunningham, Dayne Moore, Rourke van der Spuy, Heinrich Bruiners, Kyle Barker
68 - Jbe Kruger, Brandon Pieters, James Mack, JJ Senekal, Quintin Wilsnach, Jake Redman, Promise Sombreiro, Jack Hawksby, Rupert Kaminski, Justin Walters, Christopher Long
69 - Lyle Pedro, CJ du Plessis, Altin van der Merwe, MJ Viljoen, Yurav Premlall, Martin Rohwer, Malcolm Mitchell, Gerhard Pepler, Dian Kruger, Luke Brown, Franklin Manchest, Keagan Thomas, Tristin Galant, Graham van der Merwe
70 - Leon Vorster, Ruan Groenewald, Pierre Pellegrin, Martin Vorster, Pieter Moolman, Rhys West, Lyle Rowe, Ethan Smith, Christian Kriek, Craig Ross, Keegan Mclachlan, Werner Deyzel, Louis Albertse, Matthew Spacey, Vaughn van Deventer, Andrew Williamson
71 - Gerard du Plooy, Benjamin Van Wyk, Andre De Decker, Karabo Mokoena, Otto Van Buynder, Kyle De Beer, Christiaan Burke, Colin Nel, Makhetha Mazibuko, Cornel Muller, Stals Swart, Gregory Mckay, Herman Loubser, Trevor Fisher Jnr, Nikhil Rama, Jaco Prinsloo, Brandon Gildenhuys, Alex Haindl, Therion Nel
72 - Toto Thimba Jnr, Samuel Simpson, Ruan Korb, Keenan Davidse, Irvin Mazibuko, Jordan Duminy, Christo Roos, Hayden Griffiths, Jacob Oakley, Neil Schietekat, Stuart Krog, Danie Van Niekerk, Ross Mcgowan, Ricky Hendler, Haydn Porteous
73 - Umar Davids, Gary Kemp, Eugene Du Plessis, Robson Chinhoi, Keelan van Wyk, Pride Sembo
74 - Kayle Wykes, Brandon Meads, David Amm, Sean Cronje, Travis Ladner, Sentanio Minnie
75 - James Kamte, Merrick Bremner, Ruan Conradie, James Pennington, Dylan O'Leary, Thabiso Ngcobo
76 - Albert Venter, Fabrizio De Abreu, Jacques P de Villiers
77 - Conner Mackenzie, Jason Roets, LB Boshoff
78 - Bradford Vaughan
79 - Estiaan Conradie