Nothing minor about Minnie at Nomads North vs South
Ekurhuleni’s Sentanio Minnie notched eight birdies on his way to a sizzling six-under-par 66 in the first round of the Nomads North vs South Inland on April Fool’s Day.
Minnie dropped a shot at the second at Bloemfontein Golf Club, but reeled in three successive birdies from the fourth, giving a little preview of the second run to come. The 17-year-old from Glendower could even afford a second bogey at the 11th after going three under through 10 holes.
Minnie rallied with another hat-trick of birdies at 12, 13 and 14 before a final gain at the par-three 16th. He finished one stroke clear of Gauteng North junior Otto von Buynder and Franklin Manchest from Southern Cape.
Von Buynder from Blue Valley Golf Estate had a lone early bogey at the par-four second on his way to an opening 67, while SAGDB graduate Manchest from George reeled in four birdies on the back nine to offset back-to-back bogeys at 10 and 11.
Gauteng North pair Cliffie Thompson and Keegan Mclachlan finished three off the pace in a tie for fourth with Luke Mayo from KwaZulu-Natal and Boland’s Herman Loubser.
Bloemfontein’s Therion Nel and Steven le Roux from neighbouring Schoemans Park lead the local challenge at even-par 72.
FIRST ROUND SCORES – top 10
66 Sentanio Minnie
67 Franklin Manchest; Otto van Buynder
69 Herman Loubser; Clifford Thompson; Keegan Mclachlan; Luke Mayo
70 Niehaus Loots
71 Alan Lones
72 Steven le Roux; Therion Nel; Gregory Mckay; Vaughn van Deventer
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.