Seve-like Chacarra blitzes Royal Joburg to lead Dunhill

He hits the ball a mile, just like Seve, he can expertly shape the ball both ways, just like Seve, he’s got charisma, just like Seve, and he’s a swashbuckler of note out in the course, just like Seve.

Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, who took the clubhouse lead with a brilliant nine-under-par 63 on Thursday morning in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Royal Johannesburg, is like a second-generation Seve Ballesteros.

“My father comes from the same northern Spain village, Pedrena, as Seve did, so our family knew their family. Seve was my hero when I was a little guy, and I knew him. I was nine when he passed away and I was devastated.”

The 25-year-old Chacarra hit every green in regulation in his 63, carding eight birdies, an eagle and just the one dropped shot. “That was a three-putt that came out of nowhere, but otherwise a great day. This is my first visit to South Africa. I played well at Sun City last week but today was much better.

"The course is very wet after all the rain they've had but a softer course can make golf a bit easier as you can attack the pins and I did that today.”

The Spaniard led by two from Branden Grace on 65, with Oliver Bekker and England’s John Parry home in 66 on the iconic East Course, where magnificent English Oak, Weeping Willows and Sweet Chestnut trees line the manicured fairways.

'I LOVE THIS COURSE'

France’s Romain Langasque, South Africa’s 21-year-old sensation Aldrich Potgieter and compatriots Dean Burmester and Christiaan Bezuidenhout were home in 67, Bezuidenhout making birdies at the last five holes he played (No 5 to No 9 as he started his day at the 10th) to get to that number. They were later joined by Spain's Jorge Campillo, Germany's Marcel Siem and South Africa's JC Ritchie.

"I started off a bit slowly because it was chilly early in the morning, but my eagle three at 18 (his ninth hole of the day) got me going," Grace said of his 65. "I love this golf course and have done well here before," he added, referring to his 2007 Silver Vase amateur win at Royal and his 2012 Joburg Open victory.

Chacarra attended Oklahoma State University, where he was a first-team All-American, reaching a high of No 2 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, before turning professional and joining LIV Golf in June 2022.

In October 2022, Chacarra gained his first professional victory, winning LIV Bangkok. In 2023, he won the St Andrews Bay Championship played at Fairmont St Andrews on the Asian Tour as part of the International Series. He defeated Matt Jones in a 10-hole sudden-death playoff.

Chacarra left LIV Golf after three seasons and earned full DP World Tour status when he won the Hero Indian Open on a sponsor's invite in March this year.