Wessels off to a flying start in Big Easy Tour event at Glenvista

Jordan Wessels came out firing on all cylinders in the first round of the fourth Betway Big Easy Tour event, carding an almost-perfect eight-unfder 64 to lead by three at Glenvista Country Club.

The recently-turned-professional Wessels started his round in the afternoon when Thabiso Ngcobo had already set the clubhouse lead at 4-under-par.

A bogey on the first hole threatened his round quite early on, but the 21-year-old had other ideas.

He recovered from that early setback with a birdie on the second, parred the third and then went on a four-hole birdie stretch which was eventually halted by back-to-back pars on eight and nine.

Wessels birdied the 10th to keep his momentum going and followed that up with three more pars as he sought to keep the big numbers off his card. Another birdie got onto his card on the 14th before closing off his round with another pair of birdies.

“I played solidly,” said Wessels. “But I am struggling a bit with my ball-striking. I did not hit it as well as the score says. I just kind of managed to keep it in play and give myself a decent amount of looks and I got the putter going pretty early in the round, which helped a lot.

“The putting was really good today. It was one of those days where you need to come out and hit the ball a bit better for the rest of the week, then I’ll be on the good track.”

Wessels is three shots ahead of Ruan de Smidt whose eventful round of 67 consisted of four birdies, two eagles and three dropped shots.

“It felt like I played really well,” said De Smidt after his round. “I had three three-putts, which is never ideal but the greens are quick here. I was super disappointed with how I finished, though, especially the two par-fives on the back nine. I was on the green for two and couldn’t convert those to birdies.”

Speaking about the eagles he made on 11 and 17, De Smidt said: “On the two par-fives, I hit beautiful second shots. I think I had five-feet and five-feet on both. Two short putts for eagles. I haven’t made many of those in the last few rounds, so I am happy with that.”

Thabiso Ngcobo, Ruben Van der Berg, Sean Howell, Jacques van der Merwe and Logan Leisher are tied for third after they all signed for rounds of 68. Karabo Mokoena is in a six-way share of the eighth spot on the leaderboard, thanks an opening 69 which included a hole-in-one for Mokoena.

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:

64 - Jordan Wessels

67 - Ruan de Smidt

68 - Thabiso Ngcobo

68 - Jacques Van der Merwe, Ruben Van Der Berg, Logan Leisher, Sean Howell

69 - Karabo Mokoena

69 - Luke Truter, Brandon-Lee Geere, Ruan Groenewald, Luke Joy, Werner Deyzel

70 - Noel Anderson

70 - Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Keelan Africa, Jacquin Hess, Steven Le Roux, Minjun Heo, Dillon Germshuys, Franklin Manchest, Khanya Mkhize, Wandre Snyman, Francois van Staden

71 - Marcel Steyn Scholtz

71 - Max Orgovanyi, Jason Froneman, Haydn Driver, Daniel Smith, Travis Ladner, Lyle Pedro

72 - Wiehan Van der Walt

72 - Callum Mowat, Vaughn van Deventer, Kass Muller, Amilkar Bhana, Chandler Shaw, Sean Cronje, Leon Visser, Slade Pickering, Mitch Phigeland, Yusuf Dadoo

73 - Josh Hirsch

73 - Hannes Strooh, Ulrich van den Berg, Nick Beart, Matthew Dennis, Christian Kriek, Joshua Van der Wath, Eric Wowor, Matthew Bennett, Ethan Gough

74 - Sentanio Minnie

74 - Philip Geerts, LB Boshoff

75 - Makhetha Mazibuko

75 - Daniel Palmquist, Maheshan Naidoo, Ricco Motsa, Richard Kruger, Matthew Mortimer, Andrew Proctor, Max Nicholls, Lwazi Gqira, Jan-Hendrik Nieuwoudt, Kian Coetzer, Thabang Simon

76 - Darren Neyt

76 - Brandon Gildenhuys, Evance Vukeya, Jaco Anderson, Ethan Govender, Tanish Gudhka

77 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr

77 - Shaheed Patel, Jastice Mashego

78 - Leon Vorster

78 - Shaunak Rama, Ronald Rugumayo, John Palm, Sipho Bujela, Kael Strydom, Umar Davids, Romano Saincic

79 - Austin Cherichella

79 - Shalan Govender, Gabriel Cruz, Jarryd Govender, Louis Liebenberg, Alphius Kelapile, Khaya Jika

80 - Kyle Kistensamy

80 - Carl Mwale

82 - Kayle Wykes

82 - Drikus Joubert, Brandon-Jude Rennie

83 - Mark Maart

84 - Vuyisani Makama

85 - John Bele