The second event on this season’s Big Easy Tour Road To got underway at State Mines Country Club, with multiple club champion there, Vaughn Van Deventer signing for a dominant nine-under 63 to take the first-round lead on Monday.
Following a strong runner-up finish last week in Zwartkop at Services Golf Club, Van Deventer entered the tournament at his home course in Ekurhuleni beaming confidence.
“It helps a lot to know the course well,” said Van Deventer after his bogey-free round, “I felt confident coming into this week especially after finishing 2nd last week. I was hitting it quite close today and made some putts but also, I left some out there. But I’m happy with the result.”
That confidence showed very early on in the round as Van Deventer opened his round with three straight birdies. Two holes later, two more birdies made it onto his card before finishing his back nine with yet another birdie to turn in 30 and blemish-free.
He didn’t slow down after the turn and birdied both the 10th and 11th holes. His ninth birdie of the round would come on the par-five 15th to seal what was a phenomenal round of golf.
“I didn’t have any number in my head today,” he admitted, “but after I made birdie on one and two, I said to myself ‘just another three birdies coming in would be a solid round’, and I ended up making four coming in. I thought my strongest point today was probably my putting. I missed a lot of putts last week so I have been working quite a bit on my putting lately.”
He holds a two-shot lead over the duo of Kyle McClatchie and Darin De Smidt who both carded 65s on day one.
“I’m just going to go out tomorrow and stick to the game plan and just enjoy the round,” said Van Deventer.
Michael James-Steyn, Bradley Diggeden, England’s Harry Konig, and amateur Drikus Joubert tie the fourth spot at six-under-par after round one.
By Matthews Mfubu
