From Sunshine Tour

South Africa’s Jacques P de Villiers tamed a windy Wild Coast Sun Country Club with a sublime seven-under-par 63 to share lead with England’s Joe Knox in Wednesday’s first round of the SunBet Challenge hosted by Wild Coast Sun.

“Today was really good. I hit the ball nicely with good control. The conditions were, however, really tough,” De Villiers said.

De Villiers started his round on the 10th hole and, as is often the case at the Wild Coast Sun, was playing straight into the teeth of the wind early on.

“I started my round with the wind blowing a lot. Holes 11, 12, 13 and 14 play into the wind and they are very tough. I got through those at one-under-par and used my chances from there on. It wasn’t a very spectacular round but I did make eight birdies and putted well, which helped a lot,” he said.

De Villiers is still looking for a maiden Sunshine Tour title, but doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself.

“I am really looking forward to the following two rounds, but there is still a lot of golf left. I have to keep my head up an be patient because that is what this course demands. Hopefully some putts can fall and good things can happen.”

Albert Venter (65) is two strokes further back and the leaders’ nearest challenger on five under par, followed by Michael Hollick (66) and Samuel Simpson (66) on four under par.

Jonathan Broomhead, the winner of last month’s Sunbet Challenge hosted by Time Square at Wingate Park Country Club, had to settle for a level-par opening round of 70.