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Johannesburg - Gert Myburgh continued his run of good form at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club on Monday, where he shot 69 to share the lead during the first round of the Big Easy Tour.
The 27-year-old won at Kempton Park Golf Club in May and lifted the first cheque of the 2015 Big Easy Tour season.
This week on Royal Johannesburg’s east course he continued to impress and wrapped up the first round on three-under-par to share the top spot with David Mofokeng. The leaders set out a one-shot cushion over Aubrey Barnard, Conway Kunneke, and Makgetha Mazibuko, while a handful of player were tied for sixth on one-under.
Some confidence
Myburgh, who has made 223 birdies and 10 eagles since joining the Sunshine Tour in 2014, started on the 10th tee and had a steady front nine that included birdies at the 11th and 18th.
“I sank a long putt for birdie at the 11th and it gave me a bit of momentum. I was able to up and down for par at the next hole and it kept my rhythm going. I normally struggle a bit on the front nine here, so I wanted to have some confidence going into that stretch,” he said.
The toughest stretch on the east course runs from the second hole to the fifth and the big man from Kempton Park surrendered bogeys at the second and fourth holes. He bounced back quickly and went on to make three consecutive birdies from the sixth to the eight, which secured his lead.
“I’ve always liked finishing strong, and today (on Monday) at the par-five sixth I hit a decent drive in the fairway and then decided to go for the green, even though I had a three-wood in my hands. I made the green, missed the eagle putt and then picked up my first birdie. From there I was able to play a bit more aggressively and it turned my round into a good one,” he said.
Good chance
He’ll look to become the first two-time winner on the 2015 Big Easy Tour on Tuesday.
“I’m playing a lot more consistently now. I’ll try to do much of the same tomorrow (on Tuesday), because the scoring holes are definitely the par fives out here. If I can post another number like today then I should have a good chance,” he said.
SCORES:
69 - Gert Myburgh, David Mofokeng (LES)
70 - Aubrey Barnard, Makhetha Mazibuko, Conway Kunneke
71 - Gideon Pienaar, Dongkwan Kim (KOR), Michael Palmer, Stephen Ferreira (POR), Breyten Meyer, Bryn Flanagan, John McClean (NIR), Pieter Kruger
72 - Dayne Moore (ZAM), Jaco Mouton, Bryandrew Roelofsz, Terence Salo, Jason Froneman
73 - N.J. Arnoldi, Stefan Engell Andersen (KEN), Ryan Clarke, Mark Fensham, Kevin Rundle, Coert Groenewald
74 - Burger Heckroodt, Glen de Waal (NAM), Jastice Mashego, Divan Gerber
75 - Mikhail Tewary, Tertius van den Berg, Daniel Hammond, Jonathan Raphunga, Wayne Stroebel, Rourke van der Spuy, Greg Bentley (ZIM), Tyron Roelofsz, Johan van der Wath
76 - Han Bo Lee, Michael Dreyer, Ruan Huysamen (NAM), Kyle Lucas, Sipho Bujela, Paul de Beer
77 - Tiaan Diederiks, Nico Els, Wade Jacobs, Calvin Caldeira, TJ Bekker, Ryan Gosling
78 - Itumeleng Motale, Rae Mackie, Arthur Horne (SWZ), Maritz Wessels, Riekus Nortje, Khaya Jika, Lean Boezaart
79 - Siyanda Mwandla (AMA), Nkosinathi Dauwa (AMA), Thanda Mavundla, Jason Diab, Ryan Ciapparelli
80 - Leorin Pillay, Otto van Greunen, Shalan Govender
81 - Duane Keun, Bryce Bibby, Victor Nhlapho, Roy Da Costa (POR)
82 - Louis Botha, Jacques de Villiers
83 - Warrick Moonieyan
85 - Mike Maile, Shingi Shumba (ZIM)
89 - Dave Lamprecht.
