Oliver Bekker produced a phenomenal 10-under-par 62 to lead the first round of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at Oubaai Golf Estate on Thursday.
Although there was placing in round one, Bekker’s bogey-free round was still just one shot off the joint course record held by course designer Ernie Els and Sunshine Tour professional Jovan Rebula.
“Everything worked today, so it was nice,” Bekker said after his round, which earned him a two-stroke lead over Jean Hugo and Sean Bradley.
On a beautiful day on the Garden Route, Bekker found the form he’s been searching for in a frustrating year thanks to a new set of irons and a new broomstick putter which he’s using for the first time this week.
“I got some new irons on Tuesday and they seem to be working,” said the eight-time Sunshine Tour winner. “I got a new broomstick putter in the bag for the first time and I made a few nice putts, so I can’t complain.
“Obviously, I’ve been playing pretty poorly the last while and to now all of a sudden come out and shoot 10 under par gives you a lot of confidence. It came out of nowhere, but I was also quietly confident after I got my new irons. I hit a couple of quality shots with them and was just building momentum on that.”
It was a performance that has given Bekker an opportunity to add his name to the illustrious list of champions on the Vodacom Origins of Golf series over the past two decades.
“I hit it good off the tee and I think I missed only one green in regulation. My iron play was really good and that’s been something I’ve been struggling with big time over the last three to six months. So that was nice to see.
“It’s still early days but it’s nice to be out here and in the lead. You can’t win it on the first day but you can definitely lose it. I’m in a good position. There are three more rounds to go and hopefully the weather stays like this, and then I think it will be an enjoyable week.”
Behind him Hugo’s bogey-free 64 has also put him in a good position to keep building his incredible legacy on this series. Hugo is hunting a record 13th Vodacom Origins of Golf title this week and won the first tournament on the series this year.
Dean Burmester, also a former winner on this series, opened with a five-under-par 67, while Branden Grace – the winner of the 2012 Vodacom Origins of Golf Final – signed for a two-under-par 70.
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Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images
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