Australia’s Austin Bautista made a strong start to the fourth Betway Big Easy Tour event of the season on Tuesday, carding an opening round of six-under 66 to share the early lead with Jacquin Hess at Benoni Country Club.
The Q-School graduate Bautista has shown his quality over a few events now, both on this Sunshine Tour feeder circuit and the main tour itself. His second-place finish in the FBC Zimbabwe Open earlier in the season stands as testimony to his ability to perform at the highest level.
“I’m just riding a tsunami, you know,” said Bautista of his current form. “I’m on top of this gigantic wave, and I’m going to ride it all the way through to a bigger tour, bigger wins. A lot of hard work goes into it, and it’s not a stroke of luck that I’ve just started playing good golf. It’s hard work, dedication and doing the right stuff.
“I got off to a slow start today. It was cold. I started to warm up and started to make some putts. I hit a driver on 18, which was my ninth. It was perfect, then I hit a three-wood to five feet and made eagle. Then I followed that up with a couple more birdies. So, the round was good.”
While Bautista continues to ride his wave, Hess can also easily be thrown into that mix. The Robertson’s Golf Club member Hess has had a couple of solid starts to events this season. On Tuesday, and following a nervy front-nine one-over 37 which included two double-bogeys, Hess got into his groove.
An eagle after the turn solidified his resolve and was soon followed by a hat-trick of birdies from 12 through to 15. Hess, a member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, was not done, however. He made further gains with birdies on the 17th and the last hole to seal a round of 66 to co-lead by two strokes.
“I actually started very well,” said Hess. “Birdie on the first and a nice long birdie-putt on the third. I think it must have been a 50-footer. But I had two doubles before that birdie on nine. The back nine was much better.
“This golf course is perfect for me. I get perfect numbers here, and the greens are just unbelievable. I am happy I was able to take advantage of these fast greens, and I hope to continue playing well so we can see where it all takes me.”
Bradley de Beer and Jacques van der Merwe trail by two strokes after opening with respective rounds of 68. A stroke further lies the trio of Ryan van der Klis, local man Reece McKain and another member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, Jordan Duminy.
