Germishuys under threat from Steyn in Polokwane
Deon Germishuys produced a flawless five-under-par 67 at Polokwane Golf Club on Monday to lead the first round in the Nomads SA Boys U-19 Stroke Play Championship.
The Western Province junior notched birdies at the second, fourth, fifth, 14th and 17th holes to set the target, however, the 15-year-old Strand golfer has a host of top juniors breathing down his neck.
Marco Steyn from Central Gauteng scored two eagles on his way to a four under 68 to finish within a stroke of the leader in the prestigious event.
Former Nomads SA Boys U-17 champion Jovan Rebula overcame a double bogey at the par-three 11th to finish just two off the pace.
The Southern Cape golfer has Ekurhuleni’s Jason Thalrose and Aneurin Gounden from KwaZulu-Natal for company in joint third.
Thalrose from State Mines and Mount Edgecombe’s Gounden also enjoyed blemish-free trips around the par-72 layout.
Gounden came agonisingly close in the match play championship in 2013, but lost in the final to Zander Gous, who became only the third player in the 25-year history of the event to win both the Stroke Play and Match Play titles.
Meanwhile South Africa’s top ranked Tristen Strydom also made solid start to his title defence.
The 17-year-old Ekurhuleni golfer negated a double bogey start with birdies at the second and seventh holes to turn level and reeled in three birdies on the back nine to cancel a drop at the par-three 16th to sign for a two under 70.
Strydom tied for sixth with local hero Cameron Nesmith, Garrick Higgo from Boland and North West’s Slade Pickering.
FIRST ROUND SCORES (top 20)
67 Deon Germishuys
68 Marco Steyn
69 Jason Thalrose; Jovan Rebula; Anuerin Gounden
70 Cameron Nesmith; Tristen Strydom; Garrick Higgo; Slade Pickering
71 Niehaus Loots
72 Werner Deyzel; Ruben Coetzer
73 Luca Filippi; Gregory Mckay; Alan Lones; Burt Gildenhuys; Dylan Naidoo; Tom Watson; Dawid Opperman; Steven le Roux; Keanu Pestana
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.