Early Swart catches the birdies at SunBet Challenge Wild Coast Sun

Stals Swart. Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour

Stals Swart made good use of an early tee-time to negotiate a windy Wild Coast Sun Country Club course and lead the field by two shots on six under par after Thursday’s opening round of the Sunbet Challenge Wild Coast.

The chasing group on four under par are the Sout Africans Rupert Kaminski, Adam Breen, Travis Ladner, Trevor Fisher Jnr, Haydn Porteous, Tyran Snyders, and Keagan Thomas, as well as Ireland’s Liam Grehan.

Swart, who is still searching for his maiden Sunshine Tour title, started his round on the back nine and only dropped one shot in his 64.

“I am very pleased with my round of golf today. I drove the ball very well, and my favorite shot was the tee shot on the fifth hole. I hit the nicest five iron off the tee. My game plan coming into the week was to hit into smart spots and it seemed to work today. There are a few puts I rolled in today which I am very pleased with because the last few years I’ve been here I have been struggling on the greens,” said Swart.

The wind is always a factor at the coast – something that Swart is fully aware off going into Thursday’s second round.

“With the windy conditions I think ball striking is key, so I’ll just try and hit into the correct pockets and that will be the plan going forward – hitting it low into the wind,” he said.

The defending champion, Australia’s Austin Bautista, signed for a two-under-par 68, with the current Courier Guy Order of Merit leader, Samuel Simpson, one shot further back.

Scores

64 - Stals Swart

66 - Rupert Kaminski

66 - Adam Breen, Travis Ladner, Trevor Fisher Jnr, Haydn Porteous, Tyran Snyders, Keagan Thomas, Liam Grehan

67 - Charl Barnard

67 - Albert Venter, Jaco Ahlers, Ricky Hendler, Nikhil Rama, Benjamin Kedochim, Keenan Davidse, James Mack, Morris Schiefner

68 - Jonathan Wilsenach

68 - Colin Nel, Luis Carrera, JJ Senekal, Tristan Leonard, Jason Roets, Stuart Krog, Austin Bautista, Pieter Moolman, Graham van der Merwe, Jbe' Kruger

69 - Ruan de Smidt

69 - Jaden Deltel, Luke Brown, Ryan van der Klis, Tomas Gana, Rhys West, Matt Millar, Astin Arthur, Benjamin Van Wyk, Jacquin Hess, Quintin Wilsnach, Rigardt Albertse, MJ Viljoen, Samuel Simpson, Warwick Purchase, Rhys Enoch, Kyle De Beer, Dillon Germshuys, Xander Basson

70 - Toto Thimba Jnr

70 - Matthew Spacey, Martin Rohwer, Martin Leon, Otto Van Buynder, Oliver Goldhill, Jason Broomhead, Thomas Spreadborough, Jaco Van Zyl, Jonathan Broomhead, Rowan Lester, Jordan Duminy

71 - Dayne Moore

71 - Joe Sullivan, Jacques Blaauw, Franklin Manchest, Herman Loubser, Cole Stevens, Brandon Pieters, Kian Rose, Pierre Pellegrin, Thabiso Ngcobo, Jean-Paul Strydom, Wynand Dingle, Conner Mackenzie, Jean Hugo, Neil Schietekat, Ethan Smith, Allen John, Keegan Mclachlan

72 - Rourke van der Spuy

72 - Luke Jerling, Nyasha Muyambo, Doug McGuigan, Christiaan Burke, Ockie Strydom, Carter Rowe

73 - Jack Davidson

73 - Lyle Rowe, Dylan Mostert, Travis Procter, Lindani Ndwandwe, Tyrone Ryan

74 - Thanda Mavundla

74 - Altin van der Merwe, Gustavo Silva, Simon du Plooy, Hayden Griffiths, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, Hennie O'Kennedy, Ruan Korb, Gerhard Pepler

75 - Shaydon Johnson

75 - Merrick Bremner, Jacques P de Villiers, Kyle Barker, Jordan Burnand, Robson Chinhoi, Karabo Mokoena, Dian Kruger

76 - Eric Wowor

76 - Alex Haindl, Vuyisani Makama, Tristen Strydom, Anthony Michael, Malcolm Mitchell, Jacques Van der Merwe

77 - Lyle Pedro

77 - Keanu Pestana, Ethan Govender

79 - Carlos Bustos

80 - Shaunak Rama

80 - Robert Mavundla

81 - Umar Davids

82 - Danie Van Niekerk