ST FRANCIS, 22 October 2008 – Four-time Sunshine Tour winner Mark Murless shot a four-under-par 68 on Wednesday to grab a two stroke lead on a wet and windy first day of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Tour Final at St. Francis Links.
After finishing the back nine in level par, Murless continued aggressively on the front fairways to finish with six birdies despite the breezes that frustrated many players.
“I really hit good iron shots towards the pins and my putter was on form. I holed a lot of long distance putts” said Murless, who rode a red-hot putter to tie Jaco van Zyl for the most birdies in the first round.
“Despite the conditions, it really went my way today.”
The morning groups had to negotiate typical Eastern Cape conditions with the trade winds blowing up to 55km per hour in the morning, but dying later in the afternoon. Early rain softened the slick greens at the links course and the overcast conditions provided some relief from the sun.
Pretoria pro Van Zyl finished on two-under alone in second, while Nic Henning (71) grabbed a two-shot advantage over a clutch of eight players tied for fourth on one-over-par, including defending champion Titch Moore.
The Port Elizabeth pro also took advantage of the wind on the back nine.
After a bogey-bogey start, Moore found the water at the par-5 13th and signed for a crushing eight, but one hole later, regrouped to take the turn in one-over with two birdies and an eagle-2 at the 18th.
“It was always going to be tough out there today,” said Moore. “I got off to a bad start, but my dad really encouraged me, which is probably why I finished the back nine so strong”, said Moore, who made one birdie offset by one bogey on the homestretch.
“I had about 120m in for my second shot at the 18th but couldn’t even see the hole. I chipped over some bushes and hills and couldn’t see it land, but my wife’s cheer told the story.”
Local favourite James Kamte, playing in his backyard, returned a three-over-par 75.
Kamte, who tidied up for his third Sunshine Tour victory at the Metmar Highveld Classic on Sunday, also struggled in the windy conditions and completed his front nine (holes 10 to 18) in three-over.
“It was a tough day,” said the Eastern Cape pro, who reduced some of the damage with successive birdies at the fifth and sixth holes but lost the temporary advantage with a double bogey at the ninth.
“It was a two to three club wind out there and some of the holes were very, very difficult to play. And tomorrow we will play an easterly wind, completely the opposite of what we had today – more fun and games.
“You just have to keep a sense of humour about these conditions and play to your best.”
GOLF-SUNSHINE TOUR-Vodacom Origins of Golf Tour Final-ROUND ONE SCORES
Herewith the completed first round scores from the Vodacom Origins of Golf Tour Final played on Wednesday, 22 October 2008 at the St Francis Links, St Francis. All competitors RSA unless otherwise indicated:
68 - Mark Murless
70 - Jaco Van Zyl
71 - Nic Henning
73 - Christiaan Basson, Bradford Vaughan, Doug McGuigan, Titch Moore, Ryan Tipping, Brandon Pieters, Desvonde Botes, Brett Liddle
74 - Andrew Curlewis, Mike Curtis (ZIM), Ulrich van den Berg, Shaun Norris, Neil Schietekat
75 - Thabang Simon, James Kamte, PH McIntyre, Roberto Lupini, Theunis Spangenberg, Adilson da Silva (BRA), Nemanja Savic (SER)
76 - John Bele, Callie Burger, Jean Hugo, Alan Michell, Ryan Cairns (ZIM)
77 - Grant Muller, Merrick Bremner, Johary Raveloarison (MAD), Heinrich Bruiners, Vaughn Groenewald, Wynand Dingle
78 - Prinavin Nelson, Jbe' Kruger, Michael Green, Jaco Ahlers, Lindani Ndwandwe, Steve Basson
79 - Reggie Adams, Edrich Jansen, Bafana Hlophe, Graeme Whale (ENG)
80 - Rossouw Loubser, Oliver Bekker, Warren Abery
81 - Gary van Vreden, Derick Petersen, Divan van den Heever, Werner Jonck, Francois van Vuuren, Attie Schwartzel
82 - Johan Etsebeth
83 - Juan Langeveld, Kyle Norris, Gerlou Roux
84 - Tsietsi Chabangu, Anil Shah (KEN), Chris Williams
85 - Dale Burraston, Steve van Vuuren
86 - Kieran Court, David Hewan
89 - Don Black
90 - Henk Alberts
RTD - Greg Upneck
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