Madalitso Muthiya of Zambia saw his putting click into top gear on Thursday as he carded an eight-under-par 63 at Dainfern Golf Estate in the first round of the Sunshine Tour’s Stella Artois Players Championship.
He putted just once on 10 holes, and had eight two-putts for a total of 26 for his round, and, with an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey, he had a one-stroke lead over Jaco Ahlers, Tristen Strydom and Dylan Naidoo. Chris Cannon of England and Luca Filippi shared fifth place on six-under.
“It was good to have a couple of putts go in,” said Muthiya, who felt a little frustrated at being so close to playing really well in the series of tournaments co-sanctioned with the Challenge Tour which preceded this one on the Sunshine Tour schedule. “I didn’t think I was getting the scores I deserved with my play, and a lot of putts were lipping out. I think maybe the short break after the last event has let me be a little more patient and things are starting to happen.”
His round started well with a birdie on the first, and then his eagle came on the second. “I hit a six-iron to about 12 feet above the hole and made that putt,” he said. “Unfortunately, I made a bogey on five, when I left my approach on the fringe, and missed the short putt for par.
“But other than that, I was very happy with my game. I set out to just do everything well, and I did. I drove it well, my iron-play was good, and, as I said, the putting came good.”
Ahlers had an early start and laid down a marker with his bogey-free seven-under 64. He had four birdies on the front nine, and three on the homeward nine. He was joined later in the day by Strydom, who had two eagles, five birdies and a double-bogey on his card. He finished his round with a flourish, making four birdies in a row on the final four holes from the 15th. Naidoo also had two eagles on his card, as well as four birdies and a bogey.
Although there is a blend of experience in Ahlers, and talent on the verge of breaking through in the form of Strydom and Naidoo chasing him, Muthiya was not too worried about the threat they pose. “It’s very early days in the tournament,” the Zambian said. “I have to go out tomorrow and try and do what I did today one more time before I can start thinking about the weekend.”
