Van Deventer surges to Waterkloof lead

Van Deventer is fresh from a comfortable three-shot victory two weeks ago at Reading Golf Club in Alberton and the confidence which that victory brought him was almost palpable in Pretoria on Monday.

Four birdies with no bogeys on the front nine signalled a clear desire to dominate by the State Mines Country Club player.

Four-under on the front nine, van Deventer did what any professional in his position would do; keep going for more birdie opportunities. Three straight birdies after the turn followed before an untainted bogey on the 16th made its way onto his otherwise beautiful scorecard.

“The weather this morning was nice. It wasn’t too hot and the wind wasn’t blowing much so it was set for a good scoring round today, noted van Deventer after his round.“ My driving off the tee was good today. I don’t think I missed many fairways. Iron play was good which set up good birdie chances and I made good putts out there today when I needed to.

“My putting wasn’t very good at Copperleaf last week so I’m glad to be putting well again. But beyond that, I feel good on the course, and I feel comfortable with my swing and especially my putting. Also popping up with a near-perfect round, a six-under 66 effort, was Michael Kok who occupies the second spot, just two shots off van Deventer’s pace.

Having challenged on a few occasions already since the return of golf, Kok will feel his time in the winner’s circle is around the corner and two more solid rounds might just deliver him the Waterkloof victory. Sunshine Tour trio of Richard Joubert, Albert Venter and Heinrich Bruiners, and Bradley Diggeden lie three-shots off Van Deventer’s lead, after a five-under 65 for each in the first round.

Sharing the seventh spot on four-under on Monday was Adriel Poonan, number one amateur in the country right now Casey Jarvis and fellow amateurs Christian Burke, Slade Pickering, Gregg Gilson and Travis Ladner, who all shot 68s on Monday