Stellenbosch Golf Club’s Keenan Davidse says he is slowly regaining his confidence and if his opening round of 67 in the third tournament of the Betway Big Easy Tour event at Glenvista Country Club is anything to go by, he might be edging closer to his best.
He is making his second consecutive start on this Sunshine Tour feeder circuit as he prepares himself for the challenges of the main Tour. In his first Betway Big Easy Tour start this season at Modderfontein Golf Club and following a lengthy break from professional golf, Davidse opened with back-to-back rounds of 67 before a 73 in the final round robbed him. He still finished third in that event.
“I played decently today,” said Davidse who is also a member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class. “I figure it’s just a putting thing for me because the mental side is still very good. I just need to get over that little hurdle, you know, and stay focused and humbled. I’m playing really well, you know, but just need to find the hole, somehow.
“I feel like the game is slowly getting back to where I know it can be. But this is not an easy track. I played a practice round here and the wind was pumping. Even today, it was tough because it’s so firm. I think you need a little bit of luck here. Overall, I am happy and let’s see what happens in the next round.”
He is a stroke clear at the top, with the quartet of Christian Kriek, England’s Joe Knox, Slade Pickering and Zambia’s Dayne Moore chasing hard. Henning du Plooy, Jaden Deltel, Leon Vorster, Keanu Pestana, Reece McKain and Stals Swart shared sixth after rounds of 69 each.
“It’s great to have a good round under the belt,” Kriek said. “I’ve been struggling a bit lately and it’s good to finally get some confidence back. The greens are so fast here so all I did was to try and keep the ball in play. I figured if I do that, I will give myself opportunities and it turned out to be a great round for me.”
Jacquin Hess and Adriel Poonan ended the day as the highest-placing members of the Papwa Sewgolum Class. They find themselves in a share of 17th following respective rounds of one-under-par 71.
The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s developmental circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els among others.
Scores
67 - Keenan Davidse
68 - Slade Pickering, Joe Knox, Christian Kriek, Dayne Moore
69 - Henning du Plooy, Leon Vorster, Jaden Deltel, Keanu Pestana, Reece Mc Kain, Stals Swart
70 - Ulrich van den Berg, Vaughn van Deventer, Coert Groenewald, Warwick Purchase, Christopher Long
71 - Samuel Simpson, Kyle Lucas, Regan Steyn, Jacquin Hess, Adriel Poonan
72 - Jonathan Waschefort, Karabo Mokoena, Xander Basson, Andrew Williamson, Ruan de Smidt, Kieron van Wyk, Keelan Africa, Ryan Tipping, Otto Van Buynder
73 - Jordan Duminy, Eugene Du Plessis, Nikhil Rama, Luke Trocado, Makhetha Mazibuko, Mohammad Rauf Mandhu, Andre De Decker, Jabulane Mabilane, Keelan van Wyk
74 - Irvin Mazibuko, Lincon Denzy Cele, Jastice Mashego, Lyle Pedro, Cornel Muller, Leon Visser, Marcel Steyn Scholtz, Simon du Plooy, Sentanio Minnie, Andre Van Dyk, Philip Geerts, Letsoso Letsai
75 - David Amm, James Kamte, Richard Joubert, Kayle Wykes, Tyron Davidowitz, Eric Wowor, Mike Maile, Kian Coetzer, Andrew McLardy
76 - Tumelo Molloyi, Allister de Kock, Erhard Lambrechts, Matthew Rushton, Enzo Barbaglia, Shaydon Johnson, Drikus Joubert, Hayden Garcia, Bradford Vaughan
77 - Luke Mayo, Lwazi Gqira, Mutahi Kibugu, Louis Liebenberg, Sabelo Xolani Majola, Therion Nel, Trevor Mahoney, Teboho Sefatsa, Richard Kruger, Kyle Kistensamy, Paul Boshoff, Steven Le Roux, Musiwalo Nethunzwi
78 - Harry Konig, Shalan Govender, Christiaan Pretorius, Shaahid Mahmed, Nicholaus Frade, Michael Kok, Slenda Sithebe, Mark Maart, Gerhard Trytsman
79 - Johan Theron, Jarryd Govender, Carlos Losper, Terence Boardman, Francois Van der Walt, Khanya Mkhize
80 - John Bele
81 - Dehan Joubert, Aneurin Gounden, Gerard du Plooy
82 - Llewellyn Leibrandt, Jason Froneman, Kael Strydom
83 - Boeta Nasie, Ricco Motsa, Brandon-Jude Rennie, Eben Spangenberg
84 - Siyanda Mwandla
85 - David Masole
87 - Jonathan Williams
88 - Njoroge Kibugu
91 - Sibusiso Magagula
RTD - Jacob Oakley, Brandon Moodley
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