Rookie Stevens and in-form Brown shine at Stella Artois Players Championship
Rookie Cole Stevens has made another strong push for a maiden Sunshine Tour title, while four shots behind him Luke Brown is challenging for back-to-back victories after a thrilling first round of the Stella Artois Players Championship at Glendower Golf Club on Thursday.
Stevens opened with an impressive 10-under-par 62 and is challenging for a victory once again this season after finishing tied third in the Rwanda Open and second in the Limpopo Championship.
“A 62 at Glendower is always a treat. I think that I was hitting the ball pretty solid. More so my chipping and my putting was definitely the strongest factor today,” Stevens said.
It’s been a remarkable debut season on the Sunshine Tour for Stevens, who is currently ranked 10th on the overall Courier Guy Order of Merit, and second on the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings.
“Since Rwanda my form of late has been pretty good. I am working with my team, my coach and mental coach, in trying to diminish some of my weaknesses and turning it into strengths. I just think some mental work still needs to be done as well as a few finishing touches.”
Stevens teed off the 10th and was two under par through his first three holes, and then added a further four birdies on his first nine. His second nine featured a run of five consecutive birdies followed by his only dropped shot of the day.
“Leading the first round is always great but the job is not finished. I will just keep to my processes and go out tomorrow like it is the first day. Once I wake up tomorrow it is a brand new day.”
His nearest challenger is Brown who started his week with a round of six-under-par 66 and who is looking for his third title this season and back-to-back wins after his victory in the Blu Label Unlimited Challenge.
“You always try and carry the previous week’s form, if you’ve done well, into the next week, and it seems like I did that quite good,” said Brown.
“A bogey-free round and I think it was just really good ball striking that added up to 66. I actually thought it might be even lower as I had a few birdie chances coming in. It’s still a long way to go, but 66 is a great start.”
Doug McGuigan rolled back the years as the 56-year-old opened with a three-under-par 69.
Scores
62 - Cole Stevens
66 - Luke Brown
67 - Steven Le Roux
67 - Dillon Germshuys, Keagan Thomas, Deon Germishuys, Ockie Strydom
68 - Graham van der Merwe
68 - Altin van der Merwe, Nikhil Rama, Malcolm Mitchell, Rhys Enoch
69 - Hayden Griffiths
69 - Doug McGuigan, JJ Senekal, Gerhard Pepler, Warwick Purchase, Ruan Korb, Callum Bruce, Dian Kruger, Vuyisani Makama, Herman Loubser, Rigardt Albertse
70 - Tristan Leonard
70 - Agustin Errazuriz, Martin Rohwer, Stephen Ferreira, Rowan Lester, Pierre Pellegrin, Malan Potgieter, Tyran Snyders, Simon du Plooy, Robson Chinhoi
71 - Jordan Wessels
71 - Jaco Prinsloo, Rupert Kaminski, Haydn Porteous, Brandon Stone, Njoroge Kibugu, Conner Mackenzie, Kyle Barker
72 - Oliver Goldhill
72 - Quintin Wilsnach, Jacques P de Villiers, Heinrich Bruiners, Christiaan Burke, Austin Bautista, Kyle De Beer, Pierre Viallaneix, Tomas Gana, Gabriel Morgan, Adam Breen, Keenan Davidse, Jonathan Broomhead, Charl Barnard, Tyrone Ryan, Travis Ladner, Jaden Deltel, Tumelo Molloyi
73 - Eric Wowor
73 - Morris Schiefner, Benjamin Kedochim, Stuart Krog, Jordan Burnand, Benjamin Van Wyk, Dayne Moore, Peter Karmis, Anthony Michael, Ricky Hendler, Neil Schietekat, Samuel Simpson, Allen John
74 - Ethan Smith
74 - Lyle Rowe, Liam Grehan, Carlos Bustos, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Wynand Dingle, Ryan van der Klis, Jacques Blaauw, Jacques Van der Merwe, Jose Cristobal Islas
75 - Albert Venter
75 - Ryan Van Velzen, Thanda Mavundla, Ronald Rugumayo, Jason Roets, Luke Jerling, George Coetzee, Daniel van Tonder, Luis Carrera, Stals Swart, Toto Thimba Jnr, Keegan Mclachlan, Manuel Cue Vargas, Brandon Pieters
76 - Tristin Galant
76 - Rhys West, Joe Sullivan, Matthew Spacey, Matt Millar, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, Carter Rowe, Hennie O'Kennedy, Estiaan Conradie, Justin Walters, Tristen Strydom, Lyle Pedro, Keelan Africa, Astin Arthur, Allister de Kock, Ruan de Smidt, Mandla Dlamini Jnr
77 - Jacquin Hess
77 - Otto Van Buynder, Jaco Van Zyl, Thomas Spreadborough, Ulrich van den Berg, Travis Procter, Keanu Pestana
78 - Shaheed Patel
78 - Thabiso Ngcobo, Thabang Simon, Mark Maart, Makhetha Mazibuko, James Mack, Xander Basson
79 - Shaydon Johnson
79 - Jarryd Govender, Dylan Mostert, Jean-Paul Strydom, Franklin Manchest
80 - Karabo Mokoena
80 - Kian Rose, Trevor Fisher Jnr
81 - Nyasha Muyambo
81 - Evance Vukeya, Sentanio Minnie
82 - Shaunak Rama
82 - Brandon-Jude Rennie
84 - Austin Mabaso
84 - Shaahid Mahmed
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