Louis Albertse took advantage of calmer conditions in the morning as he fired a six-under-par 64 on Wednesday to take a share of the first-round lead in the Sunshine Tour’s Sun Wild Coast Sun Challenge at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club.
He shared the lead with left-handed Luke Jerling after making an eagle, five birdies and a bogey, giving the pair a one-stroke lead over a threatening trio of Ockie Strydom, Keith Horne and Jacques Blaauw. Jerling had a blemish-free round which included a 29 on the first nine after he started his round on the 10th.
“We had great weather in the morning. I also played a lot of junior golf in these parts, and had enough family holidays playing golf here as well. I gave myself a lot of opportunities out there, and took them,” said Albertse of a round that included a 10-footer for eagle on the par-five 12th hole.
“I’m very happy with this performance. I missed the last two cuts on the Rise-Up Series, and in the two-week break I spent a lot of time with my coach and sports psychologist and figured out a few things.”
Jerling’s round started without any indication of what was in store. “It was really a tale of two nines for me. I started on the back nine and although I hit the ball solid and didn’t miss a green, I just didn’t make any putts there,” he said of the nine straight pars to start his round.
But then came a run of four consecutive birdies from the first, followed by two more at the sixth and ninth holes.
“I knocked that first birdie in on the first hole and that seemed to get the momentum going. I have a new putter in the bag this week, and I’m just trusting the lines out there. The weather was also good when we teed off just after 11 in the morning, so we were on the right side of the draw.”
The forecast for the next two days indicates wind, but both Jerling and Albertse are ready for the challenge.
“I’m comfortable on this course, and growing up in Port Elizabeth, the wind doesn’t bother me. In that sense the Wild Coast course does play to my strengths. I’m just very excited to be in this position again,” said Jerling.
Albertse feels equally confident.
“The Wild Coast Sun Country Club is always a fun test. I just need to keep myself in it over the next two rounds and keep giving myself chances.”
With reporting from sunshinetour.com
