Sullivan takes slim lead at Killarney

England’s Joe Sullivan carded an opening round of three-under 67 on Tuesday to lead by one stroke in the second Big Easy Blue Label Invitational held at Killarney Country Club.

Starting on the 10th tee on Tuesday, Sullivan got off to a perfect start, making three birdies on his first five holes while keeping the big numbers at bay. An unwanted bogey finally visited his scorecard on the par-five 15th – his sixth hole of the day. He recovered from that with a birdie on 17 and then a par on 18 which was his ninth hole.

That par proved to be the first of seven in a row but Sullivan suffered another setback when he dropped on the seventh. He steadied himself and walked away with a par on the eighth, his second-last hole of the round, before birdieing the last to seal a round of 67.

“It was a good round of golf,” said Sullivan. “I played nicely for the most part. It’s a tough golf course and there are some tight holes out there. But today I had the putter rolling. I just played solid.

“You don’t have to do anything special on the first round; just solid golf; put it on the right spots and try to hit 18 greens and go from there. I think I did well today and we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Members of the Papwa Sewgolum Class Keelan Africa, Jastice Mashego and Thabiso Ngcobo share the second spot with Tristan Leonard, Leon Visser and Kian Coetzer after respective rounds of 68.

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

67 - Joe Sullivan

68 - Thabiso Ngcobo, Tristan Leonard, Jastice Mashego, Kian Coetzer, Leon Visser, Keelan Africa

69 - Makhetha Mazibuko, Nicholas Lavarone

70 - Peter Karmis, Jason Froneman, Karabo Mokoena, Austin Cherichella, Haydn Porteous, Merrick Bremner, Ruben Van Der Berg, Keagan Crosbie, Andre De Decker, Janko van der Merwe, Keelan van Wyk, James Pennington, Luke Joy

71 - Ulrich van den Berg, Slade Pickering, Johnathan Ackerman, Matthew Rushton, Liam Ross, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Johnty Darvall, Reece Mc Kain, Jason Broomhead

72 - Thanda Mavundla, Wade Jacobs, Brandon-Jude Rennie, Oliver Goldhill, Dillon Germshuys, Teboho Sefatsa, Jonathan Waschefort, Brandon Pieters, John-George Pringle

73 - Andrew Williamson, Kyle Kistensamy, Travis Ladner, Lwazi Gqira, Ryan Fricker, Travis Procter, Gary Kemp, Brandon Gildenhuys, LB Boshoff, Mark Maart

74 - Jungwi Lee, Louis Liebenberg, Lyle Pedro, Matt Millar, David Amm, Ryan Tipping, Slenda Sithebe, Therion Nel, Shaheed Patel, Steven Le Roux, Joshua Koekemoer

75 - Matthew Dennis, Lance Ellerbeck, Nicko Venter, Siyanda Mwandla, Regan Steyn, Ivan Mare, Leon van der Walt, Richard Joubert, Basil Wright Jr, DK Kim, Tiago Jorge Swart, Jaden Deltel, Wandre Snyman

76 - Allister de Kock, Hayden Garcia, Jarryd Govender, Austin Mashego, Carl Mwale, Vaughn van Deventer, Tyrone Ryan, Jabulane Mabilane, David Waschefort, Sentanio Minnie, Jacques Van der Merwe, Sean Howell, Jan-Hendrik Nieuwoudt

77 - Christiaan Pretorius, Andre Van Zyl, Gevone Skopelitis, Shaunak Rama, Drikus Joubert, Tiger Adams, Matthew Bennett, Jarryd Elliott, Siebert Wiid

78 - Mitch Phigeland, Tumelo Molloyi, Philip Geerts, Richard Kruger, Mandla Dlamini Jnr, Tylor Phillips, Adam Breen, M-Jay Xaba, Haydn Driver, Warrick Moonieyan

79 - Josh Hirsch, Evance Vukeya, Dean Ralphs

80 - Darren Neyt, Nick Beart, Tristin Galant

81 - Shaydon Johnson, John Bele

82 - Khanya Mkhize

83 - Alphius Kelapile, Nkosikhona Dilla

RTD - Gareth Willing, Ricco Motsa, Mohammed Saloojee