Hot putter gives Hess early lead at Wanderers

Robertson Golf Club’s Jacquin Hess credited his putter after shooting an opening round of six-under par 65 that gave him a two-shot lead in the Betway Big Easy Tour #3 at The Wanderers Golf Club on Tuesday.

The member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, Hess, opened his round with a birdie and followed that up with eight straight pars as he avoided any big numbers on his card. After the turn, Hess switched gears, making a crucial eagle on the par-five 10th to get his score moving in the right direction.

The eagle paved the way for a hat-trick of birdies from 11 through 13 before a pair of pars brought his run to a halt. A drop on 16 threatened his progress but Hess bounced back with a birdie on 17 before finishing off with a par on the last for a round of 65.

“I played some fantastic golf under some very difficult conditions,” noted Hess. “It was cold and windy; it felt like the weather from Cape Town came to Joburg today. But the golf course is in fantastic condition and obviously, I love fast greens.

“I was here last Monday and had a feel of the course. I started eagle-birdie last Monday, and today I did it on the back nine. I went crazy on the back nine. My putter was so hot, I’d just get it on the line and it was in. So, as I said, I just loved Kikuyu grass and I love fast greens because that’s what I am used to back home in Robertsons.”

Meanwhile, rookie Oliver Goldhill also produced a brilliant round of his own. His 67 consisted of a pair of eagles, three birdies and three dropped shots.

“I played really solidly,” said Goldhill after his round. “I took advantage of the holes downwind; I feel like that’s what you have to do in these types of windy conditions, take advantage of those easier holes.

“And I made two eagles today, which is pretty sweet and those kept my round going. So, I am happy.”

A shot further and in a share of third is England’s Joe Knox, eSwatini’s James Pennington, LB Boshoff, Tyrone Ryan and member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, Jordan Duminy.

Winners of the last two events, Harry Konig and Joe Sullivan, share the eighth spot with veteran campaigners Ulrich van den Berg and Peter Karmis alongside Australia’s Austin Bautista and Sentanio Minnie, at two-under.

The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els among other patrons.

Scores

65 - Jacquin Hess

67 - Oliver Goldhill

68 - Joe Knox, LB Boshoff, Tyrone Ryan, Jordan Duminy, James Pennington

69 - Harry Konig, Joe Sullivan, Peter Karmis, Austin Bautista, Sentanio Minnie, Ulrich van den Berg

70 - Shaheed Patel, Karabo Mokoena, Franklin Manchest, Eric Wowor

71 - Brandon Pieters, Keagan Crosbie, Brandon Gildenhuys, Teboho Sefatsa, Richard Joubert, Adam Breen, Mandla Dlamini Jnr, Joshua Koekemoer, Johnathan Ackerman

72 - Reece Mc Kain, Tiger Adams, Makhetha Mazibuko, Haydn Porteous, Matthew Rushton, Andre De Decker, Liam Ross, Kian Coetzer, Johan Theron, Travis Ladner, Christopher Long

73 - Dillon Germshuys, Travis Procter, Slade Pickering, Philip Geerts, Austin Cherichella, Ryan Fricker, Daniel Cronje, Toto Thimba Jnr, Heinrich Bruiners, Leon Visser, Jason Froneman, Vaughn van Deventer, Ryan Tipping

74 - Jaden Deltel, David Amm, Trevor Mahoney, Thomas Spreadborough, Shaunak Rama, Ace Andile Adam, Keelan van Wyk, Therion Nel, Kayle Wykes

75 - Bradley De Beer, Hayden Garcia, Kyle Kistensamy, Richard Kruger, Slenda Sithebe, Lwazi Gqira, Jacques Van der Merwe, Marcel Steyn Scholtz, Keelan Africa, Matthew Dennis, Siyanda Mwandla

76 - Keanu Pestana, Tristan Leonard, Umar Davids, Jastice Mashego, Matt Millar, Gary Kemp, Thabiso Ngcobo, Louis Liebenberg, Khanya Mkhize

77 - Caden Sanders, Ryan van der Klis, Andrew Williamson, Carl Mwale

78 - Ivan Mare, Austin Mashego, Jarryd Govender, Nick Beart

79 - Allister de Kock, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Drikus Joubert, Tawriq Abrahams

80 - Lyle Pedro

81 - Steven Le Roux, Brandon-Jude Rennie, Jabulane Mabilane

82 - Nkosikhona Dilla, Irvin Mosate wa Mazibuko, Kael Strydom

83 - Wade Jacobs

84 - John Bele

85 - Wandre Snyman