The tour has swung from New Delhi to South Africa for the next three weeks. This week a huge field has gathered at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington GC where the 210-man field are split between the West and East courses for the first two rounds before descending on the more difficult east track for the weekend, and it was no surprise that most of those on the leaderboard were tackling the west set-up first.
At the end of the day it was South African Nic Henning who produced a sensational course-record equalling 62 on that West Course to lead by a shot.
The 45 year old, who won four times on the co-sanctioning Sunshine Tour between 1999 and 2005, had five birdies and an eagle two in a remarkable outward 29 at a venue where he won the South African Amateur Championship back in 1991.
In the early going it was Belgium’s Thomas Pieters who narrowly missed out on matching the record, but still enjoyed a share of the clubhouse lead with an -8 63 and he was matched by South African Titch Moore, who had six birdies and a hole-in-one at the short fifth and they were later joined by Tjaart van der Walt on a day of low scoring.
Pieters has already had two top-ten finishes in 2015 to climb to 26th on The Race to Dubai, had five birdies in an outward 31and actually had a shot at 59 as did Henning.
Pieters has already had two top-ten finishes in 2015 to climb to 26th on The Race to Dubai, had five birdies in an outward 31and actually had a shot at 59 as did Henning.
Another South African, Dean Burmester, was T3 on -7 64, with Joachim B Hansen, Scott Henry and Byeong-hun An, all round in 65.
England’s Sam Hutsby and South African Wallie Coetsee posted the best scores from the East Course, both at -6 66 to sit in a share of 8th.
England’s Sam Hutsby and South African Wallie Coetsee posted the best scores from the East Course, both at -6 66 to sit in a share of 8th.
Two thirds of the field are under par, and for those of you needing a geography reminder Johannesburg is located in the eastern plateau area of South Africa known as the Highveld, at an elevation of 5,751 ft.
Bryan (notes from europeantour.com)
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