Thabang Simon will have to wait the rest of the evening to find out if his three-under-par 69 opening round of this week’s Big Easy IGT Chase To #22 will lead after dangerous weather conditions forced the round to be suspended with half of the field yet to finish on Tuesday.
With the Soweto Country Club continuing to prove its mettle as a championship golf course by hosting several professional tournaments with success, Simon, who is a member at the club, showed all the confidence of someone familiar with the surroundings. His round consisted of birdies on the fourth, eighth, ninth and 10th before making a bogey on 14.
A shot further back is Franklin Manchest at two-under while Irvin Mazibuko signed for a 71. With local talent in abundance in the field, it was no surprise to see a few local favourites playing well, despite some not finishing their rounds yet. Musiwalo Nethunzwi and Sipho Bujela are level-par and one-over respectively and are among those who are going to finish the round early on Wednesday.
Playing on invitation, South African Golf Development Board amateurs Monde Lamula, Kamohelo Makgalemele, Molefe Pitso and Ompholosa Tshishonga will hope for better weather conditions when play resumes. They will want to show that they can mix it with the pros and there’s no better place to do that than at their home course.
Round one will resume at 7am on Wednesday.
By Matthews Mfubu
