Cronje leads in Krugersdorp

Daniel Cronje was pleased to shoot a round of 67 in Tuesday’s opening round of the 6th Betway Big Easy Tour event at Krugersdorp Golf Club.

“I’m very happy,” said Cronje after his round. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a good start so I am very happy with my performance today. I took a three-week break from the game; this is my first tournament back.

“I was struggling and the game felt like it wasn’t in a good place; maybe I was over-golfed. A rest was needed and I feel more refreshed now and hoping to now keep going with this momentum.”

Cronje’s 67 consisted of six birdies and a solitary drop.

Tied for the lead alongside Cronje is Jordan Wessels who would have been disappointed with his finish. Wessels was nine-under through 14 holes but made bogeys on all four of his remaining holes to post a round of 67.

Glenvista Country Club’s Louis Liebenberg’s four-under 68 gave him something to smile about as he, by his own admission, has had to endure a few struggles over the course of the campaign. His round was made up of six birdies and two bogeys to leave him one shot off the early pace.

“I am a little bit surprised because I haven’t been showing signs of great golf lately,” Liebenberg remarked. “Today, I just told myself to stick to my process, take it shot for shot, and not worry about the future on anything like that; just try to enjoy it.

“The greens were a little bit quick and firm as well so you definitely didn’t want to have little awkward wedge shots because it’s really hard to stop the ball. It’s a tough track this week.” He is solo third on the leaderboard.

Sunshine Tour rookie Charl Barnard occupies the fourth spot after an opening three-under-par 69 while the big-hitting Christian Kriek, Wandre Snyman, and Hannes Strooh share fifth after rounds of 70 on day one.

Amateur Dylan Kayne is in a eight-way share of the eighth position, thanks to a round of 71 on Tuesday.

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 - Daniel Cronje

67 - Jordan Wessels

68 - Louis Liebenberg

69 - Charl Barnard

70 - Christian Kriek

70 - Wandre Snyman, Hannes Strooh

71 - Dillon Germshuys

71 - Rigardt Albertse, Ruben Van Der Berg, Dylan Kayne, Leon Vorster, Haydn Driver, Thabiso Ngcobo, Keegan Mclachlan

72 - Joshua Koekemoer

72 - Khanya Mkhize, Oliver Goldhill, Werner Deyzel, Carl Mwale, Josh Hirsch, Kayle Wykes, Travis Procter, Vaughn van Deventer, Jaco Anderson, Grant Ferreira

73 - Ruan Groenewald

73 - Ethan Gough, Tristan Leonard, Daniel Smith, Brandon Gildenhuys, Jason Froneman, Jonathan Wilsenach, Jaden Deltel, Makhetha Mazibuko, Jastice Mashego

74 - Luke Truter

74 - Ryan Tipping, Teboho Sefatsa, Minjun Heo, Philip Geerts, Matthew Dennis, Richard Shi, John Bele, Jan-Hendrik Nieuwoudt, Marcel Steyn Scholtz, Franklin Manchest, Sentanio Minnie, Sean Cronje

75 - Wiehan Van der Walt

75 - Callum Mowat, Simon du Plooy, Ruan de Smidt, Cole Stevens, Karabo Mokoena, Joe Knox, Therion Nel, Tyron Davidowitz, Francois van Staden, Shaunak Rama, Manav Mohanlal, Leon Visser, Pascal Gunther, Shaheed Patel, Matthew Mortimer

76 - Lyle Pedro

76 - Kael Strydom, Travis Ladner, Slade Pickering, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Daniel Palmquist

77 - Brandon-Jude Rennie

77 - Matthew Bennett, Noel Anderson, Jacquin Hess, Lwazi Gqira, Otto Van Buynder, Umar Davids, Sean Howell, Ulrich van den Berg, Drikus Joubert, Eric Wowor, David Waschefort

78 - Zachary Chegwidden

78 - Danie Van Niekerk, Shaydon Johnson, Nicko Venter, Shalan Govender, Kyle Kistensamy, LB Boshoff

79 - Thabang Simon

79 - Brandon-Lee Geere, Alphius Kelapile, Jaydon Galant, Sergio Arries

80 - James Truter

80 - Kian Coetzer, Vuyisani Makama, CJ Van Wyk, Sipho Bujela, Robert Mavundla

81 - Mark Maart

81 - Tumelo Molloyi, Jake Bolton

82 - Chandler Shaw

82 - Yusuf Dadoo, Mandla Dlamini Jnr, Steven Le Roux, Maheshan Naidoo, Khaya Jika

85 - Ricco Motsa

87 - Keelan Africa

87 - Jarryd Govender