Curro Aurora takes charge at Ernie Els Champs
Curro Aurora from Gauteng took a commanding 10 stroke lead in the first round of the Ernie Els SA Primary Schools Championship at Middelburg Country Club in Mpumalanga on Saturday.
Alex van der Merwe, Cole Stevens and Woo-Ju Son combined for an opening 218 to leave defending champions, St Dunstan’s College, a distant second.
Van der Merwe signed for an even-par 72 to take pole position in the Individual Competition and give his team an early boost.
Stevens and Son carded 73s, while Kieron van Wyk returned a non-counting two over 74.
Curro Aurora defeated St Dunstan’s College earlier this week to win the 54-hole St John’s Golf Invitational at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington and carried that confidence into the national team event, sponsored by four-time Major winner, Ernie Els.
“All four players delivered to put us in a strong position to challenge for victory in the final round,” said manager Hardus van der Merwe.
“The course is very dry, which meant that the balls run very far, so accuracy out there was really important. The greens are in great shape, though, and bite nicely.
“All four players were very solid and calm under pressure and I am very pleased with their performances.”
Meanwhile Ekurhuleni’s Warwick Purchase got St Dunstan’s title defence underway with a 73.
He was supported by Jayden Schaper and Zamu Nxasana, who contributed to the team’s 228 total with respective rounds of 75 and 80.
Willem Postma Primer from the Free State finished in third on 241, while Outeniqua Primary from the Southern Cape slipped into fourth 244 ahead of Gauteng’s Southdown College.
ROUND ONE TEAMS LEADERBOARD
218 – Curro Aurora – Alex van Der Merwe (72), Cole Stevens (73), Woo-Ju Son (73)
228 – St Dunstans College 1 – Warwick Purchase (73), Jayden Schaper (75), Zamo Nxasana (80)
241 – Willem Postma Primer – Hendrik Niemann (78), Du Toit Fourie (78), Herman Fourie (85)
244 – Outeniqua Primary – C Lamprecht (77), Barend Botha (78), Xander Botha (89)
245 – Southdowns College – Murad Hoosen (80), Neil Retief (82), Kyle Campbell (83)
251 – Paarl Boys Primary School – Johan Cronje (79), Tyran Snyders (84), Jacques Rousseau (88)
256 – Virginia Preparatory School – Josh Collin (84), Matthew Brown (84), Cade Cryer (88)
258 – Laerskool Lydenburg – Tiaan Brits (75), Cornè Combrink (88), Muhammed Vaid (95)
264 – Curro Hazeldean – Zander Lombard (81), Luhan Bester (84), Michael Antonie Kemp (99)
265 – Laerskool Rustenberg – Corneil Taljaard (82), MLD Hildebrand (85), PW van der Westhuizen (98)
267 – Laerskool Staatspresident CR Swart – Evert Buurman (85), Xavier Visser (89), Zane Nel (93)
269 – Laerskool Tzaneen – James Vorster (73), Franko Broodryk (88), Nico Pretorius (108)
269 – Kathu Primary School – Remon Rabie (87), Lyle Roche Pedro (89), Sybrand Daniel Brink (93)
270 – Laerskool Saamtrek – Jaco Anderson (84), Kaitlin Joan Fensham (90), Dewald Theron (96)
270 – St Johns Preparatory – Brandon Badenhorst (88), Matthew Levendig (91), Jack Montgomery (91)
273 – Laerskool Kruinsig – Juan Oosthuizen (82), Nicko Venter (88), Greagan Horn (103)
273 – Laerskool Bosveld Primary – Christiaan Young (85), Janco Lötter (93), Conrad Prinsloo (95)
285 – Bridge House School – Lloyd Phillips (85), Kelvin Swanepoel (95), Matthew Pols (105)
286 – Grey College Primary – Neil Delport (84), Wynand Visser (99), Hendrik Scheepers (103)
289 – St Dunstans College 2 – Jarod Du Plessis (87), M B Gouveira (100), Calvin Chad Monk (102)
ROUND ONE INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD (top 10)
72 – Alex van Der Merwe
73 – Cole Stevens, Woo-Ju Son, James Vorster, Warwick Purchase
74 – Kieron van Wyk
75 – Tiaan Brits, Jayden Schaper
77 – C Lamprecht
78 – Hendrik Niemann, Barend Botha, Du Toit Fourie
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.