Amateur Travis Ladner opened the Bushveld Tour’s Tour Championship presented by Srixon Golf SA at Ebotse Golf and Country Estate on Tuesday with a five-under-par 67 to lead the 54-hole tournament by two.
He made seven birdies and two bogeys, and that put him ahead of second-placed Matthew Rushton and Ryan Tipping, who each carded an opening three-under-par 69. Four players – Nicholaus Frade, Jason Froneman, Hanlo Jacobs and Stuart Krog – were on two-under-par 70 in a share of fourth.
Ladner opened his round with a bogey, and he sandwiched his second bogey on the sixth with birdies on the fifth and seventh. He turned in level-par 36, and then made five birdies without dropping a shot on his way home, including four on the trot from the 12th.
