Okkie Strydom on song at IGT’s race to USA

Strydom offset two bogeys with five birdies to hit the front, but the pacesetter could have his job cut out to stave off Korea’s Hyun Park, who matched his three-under-par 69 to grab a share of the lead.

The leaders can’t afford to relax, though.

Strydom captured the rain-shortened IGT Series Wingate in March and claimed a play-off victory against Toto Thimba at the IGT Series ERPM a week later.

Although he is not in contention for the Race to the USA series, the 29-year-old is very serious about finding some form ahead of his title defence in the R200,000 Mafeking Pro-Am at Leopard Park Golf Club this weekend.

“I certainly haven’t come here for a haircut this week,” Strydom clowned. “I not going to turn down another visit to the winner’s circle if it comes my way, but I really want to be in top form for Mafeking.

“I’m going for my hat-trick, and the Mafeking Pro-Am is always a big payday for us.”

Like the rest of the field, it took Strydom a while to get the measure of the greens at Dainfern.

“You had to pick the right side of the greens, or you were just putting for bogeys, because the greens are lightning fast,” Strydom said.

“I caught a bad lie beneath a tree at the 12th and made bogey from there. At the 17th, I misjudged the distance and hit a soft wedge to the back of green. Other than that, the game was pretty solid. I hit the ball really well, especially the driver and irons.”

Strydom, who finished the 2013 Sunshine Tour season in the top 70, had a fairly decent start before he was diagnosed with lymphedema and his season was cut short in April.

“It took about a month for the medication to run its course, but I didn’t have much of a choice but to wait it out,” he explained. “It was very painful, especially in my legs, and I couldn’t compete at all.

“It’s great to be playing again, though. I have a lot of catching up to do, so I need to get into form as soon as possible.”

– Sapa