King David Mowbray Golf Club, 22 August 2024: Get caught up on all the action from round one of the Western Province Mid-Amateur Championship at King David Mowbray Golf Club on Thursday.
Shaun Le Roux, Wayne Melle and David Thompson all carded rounds of four-under 68 to lead the Western Province Mid-Amateur Championship on a great day for scoring at King David Mowbray Golf Club on Thursday.
Teeing off in the second group of the day, Westlake Golf Club member Le Roux shrugged off a bogey-5 at the 2nd by carding birdies at the 3rd, 6th and 9th to turn in two-under 34. Further red numbers at the 10th and 12th preceded six closing pars, punctuated by a chip at the 18th which hit the flag but stayed above ground.
“I took advantage of the good drives I hit on three of the par-5s so it was good to get the birdies there,” Le Roux reflected.
Heading into the second and final round, Le Roux is hoping the similarities between KDM and his home track will serve him well.
“Mowbray is not the longest course so I think off the tee it’s a similar feel to Westlake where if you hit fairways you’re going to give yourself chances.
“If I’m driving it well which I have been I should be hitting a lot of wedges and 9-irons in. Fairways and greens will be key and if you drop a couple of putts then so be it.”
If Le Roux is to prevail he’ll have to withstand the threat posed by Rondebosch Golf Club’s Melle. Runner-up to Mitch Phigeland in the King David Mowbray Open earlier in the year, Melle demonstrated his affinity for the course as he mixed five birdies with just a single dropped shot which came at the 17th.
Among the later starters was Thompson who registered three birdies in a four-hole stretch during an inward-nine of 33 to complement a first-nine 35.
A shot adrift of the leaders is Abduraghmaan Price who signed for a 69 and with a further four players within four shots of the leaders, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 36-hole event.
Photo Credit: Craig Stirton/ Free Drop Golf Media