Strong start gives Joubert slender lead at Dainfern

Richard Joubert shrugged off a bogey on the first hole and carded an opening round of 65 to take a slim lead in the first event of the season at Dainfern Golf Estate on Tuesday.

“I hit two good shots on one; just got a little bit unlucky with my second shot,” said Joubert of his start on day one. “It was just a bad bunker shot, and I made a drop. I knew the swing was good; I’ve been working so hard. To be honest, I feel like I shouldn’t even be standing here. I played so well at Q-School, and to miss my card by 1 was very bad.

“But, we got the mindset back on track, and I think the golf is really looking good and putting very well too. Today, I made a few nice ones. The greens are rolling great and hopefully, we can keep it up tomorrow and it’s going to be a lekker week ahead.”

Following that bogey on the first, Joubert made birdie on two, four, seven and nine to turn in 33. Then, two more birdies – on 12 and 13 – made their way onto his card and then two more on 17 and 18 to seal a round of 65.

“The course is quite tight off the tee, I think,” added Joubert. “There are a lot of houses everywhere, so it’s not like it’s wide open. But, it is gettable and you can hit some irons off the tee if you’re not comfortable with the driver. I hit the driver very well today.”

A shot adrift lies Musiwalo Nethunzwi, whose 66 consisted of five birdies, an eagle and a solitary drop.

“I’m happy with my start,” said Nethunzwi. “First tournament of the season; 6-under, I can’t complain. I started with a bogey, but I thought it’s the first hole of the first tournament of the season, so I didn’t put any pressure on myself after that drop.

“You can’t give up. You need to trust your process and the work you’ve done during the off-season. So, I’m happy with y score today and I’m looking forward to the next two days.”

Daniel Cronje, Haydn Porteous and Reece McKain carded respective rounds of 67 to share the third spot on the leaderboard. Veterans Ulrich Van Den Berg and Ryan Tipping carded rounds of 68 to share the sixth spot with American Austin Cherichella, Drikus Joubert and Travis Ladner.