Slade Pickering will take a four-shot lead into the second round of the fourth Betway Big Easy Tour tournament on Wednesday, thanks to a blemish-free 63 on day one at Akasia Golf Club.
The Peacanwood Golf Estate player started his round in the afternoon and from the 10th tee where he made birdie to kick things off. He followed that up with another before making pars on 12 and 13, his third and fourth holes of the day. Another brace of birdies – this time on the par-five 14th and 15th holes – followed and Pickering made another on 17 to turn in 32 and without blemishes.
“It was a really nice round,” said Pickering. “After the work I have been putting in, it is nice to see something paying off.”
After the turn, Pickering found more joy as he birdied his 12th – the par-four third hole here. In yet another exhibition of skill, patience and persistence, Pickering made three birdies on the trot to get it to nine-under before sealing his round with back-to-back pars to rubber-stamp what was a dominant round of golf.
“I had two chip-ins today, which was nice, especially in difficult spots,” he added. “It was really a solid play from tee to green. It was one of those days where all the cylinders fired and you just take it from there and keep firing. I’m definitely going to braai tonight.”
Four shots adrift and with a solid display of his own, Paul Boshoff’s five-under 67 saw him take the second spot on the leaderboard. Four birdies, an eagle and a solitary bogey defined his opening round in the capital.
“I think it was just solid,” said Boshoff of his first round. “I started with a chip-in on the fourth hole and I played the par-fives really well. I didn’t make many mistakes and it was a pretty solid round, I would say. Now. I’m going to celebrate my mother’s birthday.”
The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s development circuit where the top 12 on the Order of Merit will earn privileges to compete on the main Tour.
Scores
63 - Slade Pickering
67 - Paul Boshoff
69 - Andrew McLardy, Marcel Steyn Scholtz, Graham van der Merwe, Warwick Purchase, Matthew Rushton
70 - Kirby Coe-Kirkham, Jordan Duminy, Eugene Du Plessis, Andrew Williamson, Tyrone Ryan, Keelan Africa, Tyron Davidowitz, Ryan Tipping
71 - Xander Basson, Christopher Long, Jastice Mashego, Trevor Mahoney
72 - Eben Spangenberg, Brandon-Jude Rennie, Henning du Plooy, Letsoso Letsai, Gerard du Plooy, Allister de Kock, Christiaan Pretorius, Jabulane Mabilane
73 - Joe Knox, Vaughn van Deventer, Richard Joubert, Jacquin Hess, Ruan de Smidt, Thabiso Ngcobo, Cornel Muller, Makhetha Mazibuko, Toto Thimba Jnr, Kayle Wykes
74 - Thabang Simon, Nicholaus Frade, Luke Mayo, Mark Maart, Mike Maile, Eric Wowor, Shaydon Johnson, Steven Le Roux, David Amm, Jason Froneman, Travis Ladner, Irvin Mazibuko, Carlos Losper, Dehan Joubert
75 - Francois Van der Walt, Erhard Lambrechts, Khanya Mkhize, Jonathan Williams, Philip Geerts, Regan Steyn, Coert Groenewald, Nicholas Adams
76 - Jacques Van der Merwe, Drikus Joubert, Basil Wright Jr, Kian Coetzer, Lyle Pedro
77 - Lwazi Gqira, Reece Mc Kain, Adriel Poonan
78 - Andre De Decker, Luke Trocado, Louis Liebenberg, Slenda Sithebe
79 - Christian Kriek, Harry Konig, Richard Kruger, Jaden Deltel
80 - Jarryd Govender, Tiger Adams, Sabelo Xolani Majola, Andre Van Dyk, Musiwalo Nethunzwi
81 - Karabo Mokoena, Dean Ralphs
82 - Kael Strydom, Ricco Motsa
83 - David Masole, Boeta Nasie
84 - Umar Davids, Michael Kok
85 - Johan Theron
DSQ - Gerhard Trytsman
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