Kyle McClatchie returned to tournament play on Monday with a seven-under-par 64 in the first round of the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour’s Race to Q-School #4 at Wanderers Golf Club.
Nine birdies and two bogeys saw hm pull a shot clear of Herman Loubser, who signed for a six-under-par 65. In third was England’s Harry Konig on five-under, with South Africa’s Gregory Mckay and Arno Pretorius in a share of fourth with Joe Knox of England and Thomas Strandemo of the United States on four-under-par 67.
“Both my bogeys should have been avoided, to be honest,” said McClatchie. “But it felt good to be back in tournament play, shaking off the inactivity of December and January.”
He started well enough to make him very enthusiastic for the year ahead, making birdie on the very first hole. He picked up four more ahead of the turn, which he reached in five-under 31. The homeward nine was a little more dramatic, with his bogeys coming on the 11th and 15th. However, he managed to pick up four more birdies for his 64.
“I’ve won my Sunshine Tour card already,” said the former South African number one amateur. But I have to wait until May before I can play in the tour in its new season. For now, it just feels good to get out there and work on golf things. I hope I can get some tournament play in to keep me in good shape.”
Loubser made one bogey in his round, as did Konig, Pretorius and Strandemo. But Knox and last week’s winner on the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour, Mckay, went bogey-free to prove exactly what kind of threat they will be.
