Zander Lombard took another positive step in his comeback when he opened with a seven-under-par 64 highlighted by an albatross to lead Friday’s first round of the Vodacom Origins of Golf at the Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate.
Lombard only returned to competitive golf in February this year following a near 10-month layoff after a knee injury and surgery.
But on a magnificent day in the Cape winelands he looked quite at home at the top of the leaderboard following a round that featured an albatross on the par-five 11th.
“The albatross definitely boosted the round,” he said. “It was such a perfect three wood hit just straight at the flag and which landed about nine metres short of the flag and trickled in. It was cool to see. It’s not every day that happens, and it’s great to have happened on day one of this tournament.”
He leads by two strokes over Altin van der Merwe, and with a strong group of players including Keenan Davidse, George Coetzee, Stephen Ferreira and Yurav Premlall all just three strokes off the lead.
Gabrielle Venter is the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professional after her opening round of two-under-par 69.
Lombard’s start was a big confidence boost as he continues to build his way back in the game following his injury.
“Since I had my 10 months off with my knee injury it’s been weird. I’ve been lacking a bit of consistency. But I’ve always felt like I’ve been playing well and just not scoring.
“To have a low round and get that confidence up, and to see the ball going in the hole and posting a good score is really nice. It seems like it’s all coming together at the right time now towards the end of the year and with some big tournaments to come.”
It’s also quite apt that Lombard should be hitting form in this tournament. His lone Sunshine Tour victory to date came on the 2018 Vodacom Origins of Golf series.
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Article Link: Lombard flying high in Vodacom Origins