Sunshine Tour pros step on the gas in Hyundai Open
On the same day the new Hyundai VENUE was launched in South Africa, the Sunshine Tour’s professionals revved the scoring deep into the red in the first round of the Hyundai Open at the Ebotse Links on Thursday.
For the second week in succession a first round of 63 led the field – this time from Chile’s Gabriel Morgan.
On a sweltering day at the Ebotse Links, Morgan kept his cool as he signed for a bogey-free nine under par which puts him one shot clear of Estiaan Conradie.
Ruan de Smidt threw in a hole-in-one on the 15th to win 100 000 Skybucks courtesy of Airlink and also join the Airlink Aces shootout at the end of the season.
Morgan, playing in his rookie season on the Sunshine Tour, is part of a strong contingent of Chilean golfers on the Tour this season and is currently 10th on the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings.
He matched the recent intensity of the low scoring on the Tour as he birdied his opening hole of the round, the par-four 10th, and added a further six birdies and an eagle – including a run of five birdies in seven holes on his back nine.
Behind him, Conradie was equally impressive with his bogey-free round of 64.
“It was hot out there, and the wind also died down later towards the afternoon,” said Conradie.
“I’m very happy with a bogey-free to start. You don’t get a lot of those rounds. There were birdies out there so I’m happy I could make some puts. The greens are getting a bit baked out now because of the heatwave, so they are getting a bit tricky.”
Conradie has been in top form this season with finishes if fifth, second and fourth coming into this event.
“I’ve been close a few times this season, so for the rest of the week it will be more of the same – keep the ball in play and just keep giving myself chances for birdies. I don’t want to overdo it or overthink it. I just want to keep knocking on the door and eventually it will open,” he said.
In joint third place, Adam Breen enjoyed a solid start with his 65. Breen has worked his way back to the Sunshine Tour after losing his card.
“I lost my card at the end of the 2024/25 season, so I played on the Big Easy Tour last year after three years on the Sunshine Tour. It’s nice to be back. It was very nice to start a tournament with a low one,” Breen said.
Scores
63 - Gabriel Morgan
64 - Estiaan Conradie
65 - Adam Breen
65 - Albert Venter, Lyle Rowe, Malan Potgieter, Matt Millar
66 - Altin van der Merwe
66 - JC Ritchie, Samuel Simpson, Stals Swart, Kyle De Beer
67 - Charl Barnard
67 - Yurav Premlall, Tomas Gana, Jacques Blaauw, Daniel van Tonder
68 - Astin Arthur
68 - Haydn Porteous, Ryan van der Klis, Joe Long, Thomas Spreadborough, Martin Leon, Graham van der Merwe, Malcolm Mitchell, Jean-Paul Strydom, Jacques P de Villiers, Tyran Snyders, Eric Wowor
69 - Makhetha Mazibuko
69 - Trevor Fisher Jnr, Martin Rohwer, Simon du Plooy, Ryan Van Velzen, Ivan Verster, Luke Jerling, Jordan Burnand, Dillon Germshuys, Matthew Spacey, Allen John, Benjamin Kedochim, Jacques Kruyswijk, Wynand Dingle, Agustin Errazuriz, Pierre Pellegrin
70 - Musiwalo Nethunzwi
70 - Njoroge Kibugu, Rhys Enoch, Neil Schietekat, Travis Ladner, Oliver Goldhill, Travis Procter, Hennie O'Kennedy, Ockie Strydom, Keagan Thomas, Jason Roets, Kieron van Wyk, Jaco Van Zyl, Benjamin Follett-Smith, Callum Bruce, JJ Senekal, Daniel Cronje, Ruan Korb, MJ Viljoen, Warwick Purchase, Rowan Lester, Carlos Bustos, Nikhil Rama, Tristan Leonard, Shaydon Johnson, Rhys West
71 - Karabo Mokoena
71 - Jaden Deltel, Dylan Mostert, Kyle Barker, Stuart Krog, Stephen Ferreira, Jonathan Broomhead, Anthony Michael, Franklin Manchest, Nyasha Muyambo, Thanda Mavundla, Tumelo Molloyi, Keenan Davidse, James Wiltshire, Jaco Prinsloo, Tyrone Ryan, Hayden Griffiths, Rigardt Albertse
72 - Ricky Hendler
72 - Keegan Mclachlan, Kian Rose, James Mack, Ethan Smith, Quintin Wilsnach, Toto Thimba Jnr, Brandon Pieters, Peter Karmis, Vuyisani Makama, Jacquin Hess, Benjamin Van Wyk, Louis Albertse, Martin Vorster
73 - Keanu Pestana
73 - Morris Schiefner, Jacques Van der Merwe, Rupert Kaminski, Otto Van Buynder, Sentanio Minnie, Carter Rowe, Gerhard Pepler, Robson Chinhoi, Herman Loubser, Joe Sullivan, Pierre Viallaneix
74 - Tristen Strydom
74 - Gustavo Silva, Combrinck Smit, Liam Grehan, Ruan de Smidt, Dian Kruger
75 - Lwazi Gqira
75 - Marcus Sandile Taylor, Cole Stevens, Thabiso Ngcobo, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, Heinrich Bruiners
76 - Brandon-Jude Rennie
76 - Mitch Phigeland
77 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr
77 - Conner Mackenzie, Dayne Moore
79 - Jordan Duminy
79 - Keelan Africa
80 - Steven Le Roux
80 - Lyle Pedro
81 - Pieter Coetzee
RTD - Louis de Jager
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