Bremner charges to BMG Classic lead
It took one of the longest hitters on the Sunshine Tour to outmuscle Glendower Golf Club and the wind that protected it in the first round of the BMG Classic on Friday.
Merrick Bremner during day 1 of the BMG Classic at Glendower Golf Club on October 17, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Picture: Petri Oeschger/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images
Merrick Bremner signed for a six-under-par 66, including an eagle on the par-five 13th hole, to lead by one over Oliver Bekker, and with Jean Hugo, Attie Schwartzel and Darren Fichardt all well-placed on four under.
“It was a good day, but tough and a little tricky with the wind,” said Bremner, whose most costly error of the day came when he found the water on the 10th hole for a double bogey. “I had a little mental error on the 10th, but other than that I played fantastic”.
Jean Hugo shot a steady four-under-par 68 during the morning round to put him two shots behind the leader. “If you were close to 70, or even par in the morning, you were playing very well. So I’ll take 68 and see what happens tomorrow,” he said.
With the wind eventually dying down, the afternoon field found scoring a lot easier and it reflected on the leaderboard.
Fichardt made the halfway turn in 31, after a flawless front nine which included five birdies. But he also found trouble on the 10th where he made a double bogey. But he’s satisfied with his start in this event. “Two shots, even five shots is nothing with two rounds to go, it should be good.”
The outright second place came late in the day with Oliver Bekker signing for a five-under-par 67.
“My putting speed was very good and that was probably the main thing for me today. I’ve been going through some swing changes, and haven’t been playing well, so it was nice to see a good round today.”
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