Roux seizes control at SA Mid-Am Stroke Play

Gerlou Roux threw down the gauntlet with an impressive five-under-par 65 in the first round of the South African Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old Western Province player made the most of perfect golfing conditions at the magnificent Victoria Country Club in KwaZulu-Natal to offset a lone bogey with six birdies for a three stroke lead over Elton James.

The former KZN player, who now plays out of Westlake, also had just one blemish on his card and three gains helped to edge out Hugo Delport from Kempton Park and Killarney’s Ryan Dreyer for second place.

Former champions Greg Sheard and Neil Homann opened with respective rounds of 75 and 76.

Golf is an unpredictable game, but the smart money is certainly on Roux.

Having dominated the mid-amateur circuit this season, the country’s top ranked mid-amateur was the undeniable favourite coming into the circuit’s flagship event.

The Bellville golfer enjoyed his first podium finish in the Central Gauteng Mid-Amateur Open in January and followed with victory in the Ekurhuleni Mid-Amateur Open at Germiston Golf Club a month later.

He made his third visit to the winner’s circle in the Southern Cape Mid-Amateur Open at Fancourt in April and just a week later, claimed the Highveld Mid-Amateur Open at Middelburg Country Club.

ROUND ONE SCORES – top 10
66 Gerlou Roux
69 Elton James
70 Hugo Delport, Ryan Dreyer
71 Sean Quigley, Keith Forde
72 Pierre Spies
73 Edrich Coetzer, Shaun Mulligan, Jan Delport

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.