SA team off to slow start at St Andrews

Dutchman Daan Huizing got off to a flying start and left the field in his wake while Boland golfer Drikus Bruyns was the top performer for the six-man South African squad touring Scotland in round one of the St Andrews Links Trophy.

The country’s number five ranked player carded an opening one-under-par 70 at the New Course to finish five shots adrift of the 21-year-old leader in the 72-hole event. Huizing produced a master class six-under-par 65 that included an eagle and four birdies to lead the top international field.

Other first round results from the six-man SA squad included Limpopo’s CJ du Plessis, who returned an even par 71, while Southern Cape’s Shaun Smith and Haydn Porteous from Central Gauteng both carded one-over-par 72s.

Ekurhuleni’s Gert Myburgh and JP Strydom struggled in the cold conditions that saw the mercury hover around the 13 degree Celsius mark and returned rounds of 78 and 79 respectively.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s top amateur Brandon Stone will start the second round at the Old Course two shots off the pace after carding a two under 69.

Fair weather is forecast for Saturday and with the cut mark around even par, the South African squad will be looking for an improved performance to extend their stay at the Home of Golf when they tackle the par-72 course in round two.

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