SA’s rising stars primed for Joburg Open start

Marco Steyn, Dylan Naidoo, Karabo Mokoena and James du Preez are primed to start the first round of the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington this morning.

Reigning Cape Province Open champion du Preez will open the amateur batting.

The lanky Gauteng North player will have Australia’s Dimi Papadatos and South Africa’s CJ du Plessis for company in the first two rounds and the group tees off at 09h20 from the first tee at the East Course.

Recently crowned Leopard Trophy winner Marco Steyn follows at 09h30.

The Central Gauteng golfer is paired with Daniel Gaunt from Australia and American John Hahn, who shot a rare 12-under-par 58 in the third round of the 2014 Q-School Final Stage on his way to gaining his card for the European Tour.

The trio will start from the first at the East Course.

Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation player Karabo Mokoena, South Africa’s Jason Viljoen and Marcus Kinhult from Sweden will set off at 09h30, also from the first tee at the East Course.

Naidoo, making his second appearance in the R16.5-million Sunshine and European Tour showpiece, will start his campaign at the West Course.

The reigning Nomads SA Boys U-19 Stroke Play champion is playing alongside the familiar face of former top English amateur Toby Tree and Hugues Joannes from Belgium.

Former champions George Coetzee, Richard Sterne and Ariel Canete are also in the mix this week, while BMW SA Open champion Brandon Stone will play alongside his long-time idol Ernie Els and Germany’s Marcel Siem.

The trio are off at 11h15 from the first tee on the West Course.