Qualifying school starts at State Mines
The qualification tournament for South Africa’s golfing big leagues started from March 5 to March 9 (ending after going to print).
Pretoria’s PJ van der Merwe posted an untarnished eight-under-par 64 opening round of the Qualifying School Stage One at State Mines Country Club to take the lead on March 6.
After opening his round with a par, and despite admitting to struggling with the putter in the practice rounds, Van der Merwe made a birdie on the second and followed that up with an eagle on the par-five third to make his intentions clear.
Three pars later, he made another birdie on the seventh and two more pars to go out in 32.
He did not relent on the homeward stretch as he shot another bogey-free 32.
“I started very well in the morning, going four-under in the first nine,” said Van der Merwe after his round.
“I putted well there.
“I have been struggling with the putter leading up to this tournament, but three days ago I just found something in my putting and it just went well today.”
Also read: U-19 Ekurhuleni golfers claim historic victory
A stroke behind him on seven-under came Krugersdorp’s Clinton Grobler.
He also produced a flawless round in hot conditions in Brakpan, making four birdies on the front and three on the back nine.
“It wasn’t too bad a start,” said Grobler, “and my putting was on today.
“I hit the fairways, greens and you didn’t have to hit a lot of drivers on the course because it’s quite short, but the greens today were definitely a little quicker than yesterday so it made me feel a little comfortable to get the ball closer to the hole. I just had to make a couple of putts and the confidence was there.”
France’s Louis Bilbault, Erhard Lambrechts and Richard Joubert all shared three-under 69 in round one.
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