French amateur Jules Helary carded a two-under-par 70 on Monday in the opening round of the IGT Challenge Tour’s Road to #5 at Akasia Golf Club.
His four birdies and two bogeys saw him take a one-stroke lead over South African female amateur Danielle du Toit and male amateur Matthew Rossouw. In an amateur-dominated leaderboard, Conner Mackenzie is fourth on level-par, Eben Spangenberg and Tristan Leonard shared fifth on one-over, and Joe Mnyandu was in seventh on two-over – amateurs all.
Helary picked up a birdie on the fifth hole for his only gain on the front nine, and then his second came on the 11th after the turn. He dropped a shot on the 13th, but followed that with two birdies came on the next two holes. He made is second bogey on the 16th before making par on the final two holes.
Together with amateur Rees Emanuel, Eric Nel and Morne Buys were the highest placed professionals on the leaderboard, in a share of eighth on three-over-par.
