Boshoff shows grit to tie Van der Walt for early lead at CMR

Paul Boshoff shrugged off a bogey on the first hole and marched on to an eventful round of 64 to tie Francois Van Der Walt who was already in the clubhouse with a blemish-free 64 of his own on day one of the seventh tournament of the season at CRM Golf Club on Tuesday.

Contrary to Van Der Walt’s fortunes when he made eagle on that first hole, Boshoff made a bogey there to start his day. But it was to mean very little soon as the Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate player would soon let loose. Boshoff followed up that drop with a par on the second before sinking three birdies back-to-back.

A par on nine paved the way for a brace of birdies on 10 and 11, with a sneaky bogey threating to derail his progress on 13. Once again, Boshoff recovered swiftly; birdieing 14, 16 and sealing his round with an eagle. All in all, a brilliant round of golf!

Van Der Walt was just as scintillating on his way to an untainted round of 64. His rapid start saw him go five-under in the first four holes, thanks to a pair of eagles and a birdie to mark a fantastic start. He backed those up with another birdie on six to turn in 31 and bogey-free. A par on nine marked a run of seven pars on the trot as Van Der Walt sought to manage what was left of the first 18 holes.

He made further gains in the latter stages of the round; birdieing 16 and 18 to close off what was one of the best rounds on Tour this season. While both Boshoff and Van Der Walt will be satisfied with their day’s work, they will both know of the challengers that lurk ever-so-dangerously.

Benoni Country Club’s Warwick Purchase and Maccauvlei’s Johan Theron shot seven-under each and share third. Purchase has already tasted victory on Tour and will want to call on that experience as he searches for more glory. His bogey-free 65 has given him a strong start and he will want to emulate Tuesday’s performance in the next second round of this 54-hole event.

Luke Mayo continued with the good form that took him into a playoff with Musiwalo Nethunzwi in Soweto a fortnight or so ago; carding a blemish-free 66 to tie fifth with Richard Joubert, who’s own 66 had no blemishes.

18-year-old amateur and CMR Golf Club member, Yusuf Dadoo, capitalised on his knowledge of the terrain here, carding a near-perfect 67 to take a share of fifth ahead of the second round.

Mark Maart was the leading member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class after day one, sharing fifth with the aforementioned Dadoo, veteran Ulrich van den Berg and Reece McKain.