Jayden Schaper had a phenomenal day on his home course at Ebotse Links, shooting a seven-under-par 65 to share the lead after the first round of the Fortress Invitational with Clinton Grobler and Ockie Strydom on Friday.
Schaper began his round with a birdie on the tenth hole, followed by consecutive gains on the twelfth and thirteenth holes. Following a spectacular front nine that included birdies on the par-three 15th and par-five 18th holes, he reached the turn in just 31 shots.
Even a bogey on the par-3 eighth hole did not detract from Schaper’s remarkable round of golf, which included three birdies in the following four holes beginning on the fourth.
Following his best round of the Sunshine Tour season to far, Schaper stated, “Playing on my home course is slightly favorable since I know where certain pins are, where to miss, and which bunkers to avoid.”
“Nevertheless, you must strike the ball correctly, execute your shots, and sink your putts. My play from the tee to the green has been strong over the past few weeks, and I’ve also been gradually improving on the greens.
“Today, I played a fairly solid round of golf, made terrific decisions, and executed excellent shots. I was consistent today, Schaper stated.
Schaper added that the return of veteran coach Grant Veenstra from the United States may have also contributed to the outstanding performance: “It was fantastic to have him back after not seeing him for a couple of months.”
Grobler, a 28-year-old golfer from Krugersdorp, began his round on the tenth and shot three straight birdies before bogeying the seventeenth and fourth holes on way to a score of 65. His eagle-three on the 18th hole was the most noteworthy feature of his play.
The in-form Strydom, from the nearby Serengeti Estate, carded a four-under-par front nine, but then the rollercoaster began: The 37-year-old bogeyed the par-four 10th, followed by a hat-trick of birdies from the 12th, dropped a stroke at the 17th, and then closed with a magnificent eagle on the final hole to surge into a tie for the lead.
Five golfers, including Hennie Otto, Dan Erickson, Makhetha Mazibuko, Kyle de Beer, and Richard Joubert, have all scored 66.
Three weeks ago, Wynand Dingle won the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series San Lameer tournament. He is now in the group with a score of five under par.
Scores:
Clinton Grobler, Ockie Strydom, and Jayden Schaper are represented by the number 65.
66 – Makhetha Mazibuko, Hennie Otto, Richard Joubert, Kyle De Beer, Dan Erickson
67 – Wade Jacobs, Wynand Dingle, Siyanda Mwandla
The 68th team consists of Stephen Ferreira, Anthony Michael, Pieter Moolman, Keagan Thomas, Quintin Wilsnach, and James Kamte.
The 69th team is comprised of Kevin Rhoderick, Joe Long, Jonathan Broomhead, Toto Thimba Jr., Thabang Simon, Callum Mowat, Matthew Spacey, Fredrik From, Bradley Bawden, Clancy Waugh, and Keith Horne.
70 – Desvonde Botes, Christiaan Burke, Peter Karmis, Harry Konig, Adam Breen, Kyle Barker, Jaco Van Zyl, Michael Palmer, Dylan Naidoo, Christiaan Basson, Kyle McClatchie, Neil Schietekat, Sean Cronje, Divan van den Heever, Wallie Coetsee, Steve Surry, Rupert Kaminski, Martin Rohwer, Keenan Davidse, Ryan Van Velzen, Albert Venter, Jean Hugo, Jaco Prinsloo, Sean Bradley, Ruan Conradie, Paul Boshoff, Aneurin Gounden
71 – Samuel Simpson, Martin Vorster, Rourke van der Spuy, Dylan Mostert, Ruan Korb, Jbe’ Kruger, Doug McGuigan, Therion Nel, Mandla Dlamini Jnr, Adriel Poonan, Danie Van Niekerk, Jared Harvey, Herman Loubser, Malcolm Mitchell, Keelan van Wyk
72 – Rhys West, Jake Redman, Hennie O’Kennedy, Heinrich Bruiners, Stefan Wears-Taylor, Michael Kok, MJ Viljoen, Luke Jerling, Ulrich van den Berg, Merrick Bremner, Riekus Nortje, Nikhil Rama, Jastice Mashego
Michael Hollick, James Mack, JJ Senekal, Madalitso Muthiya, Luca Filippi, Clayton Mansfield, Gerard du Plooy, Tristin Galant, Vaughn van Deventer, Joshua Seale, Brooklin Bailey, Estaaan Conradie, Jacques Blaauw, Ruan de Smidt, and Vaughn van Deventer were all eliminated (73).
74 – Thanda Mavundla, Erhard Lambrechts, Louis Albertse, Combrinck Smit, Jordan Duminy, Andre De Decker, Franklin Manchest, Leon Vorster, Henning du Plooy
75
Brandon-Jude Rennie (76), Hayden Griffiths, Gerrit Foster, Mutahi Kibugu, Lincon Denzy Cele, Keelan Africa, Maverick Faber, Chris Cannon, Dean O’Riley, Keelan Africa, Maverick Faber, Chris Cannon, Dean O’Riley
In the 77th round, Shaahid Mahmed, Irvin Mazibuko, Tumelo Molloyi, and Steven Le Roux were eliminated.
Benjamin Follett-Smith, Dwayne Basson, Jovan Rebula, and Lyle Rowe make up the group of seventy-eight.
James Pennington and Christopher Swanepoel are number 79.
One hundred and one – Brian Gondo and Evance Vukeye
Jacquin Hess and Gareth Sargent are 82.
83 – Sipho Bujela
86 – Lwazi Gqira
RTD – Yubin Jung