Spain’s Pablo Ereno carded his lowest tournament round of 10-under-par 62 to lead the first round of the Jonsson Workwear Durban Open by a single stroke at Durban Country Club on Thursday.
Ereno opened with two consecutive birdies and then produced a run of six birdies and an eagle in eight holes over the turn as the foundation of his round.
It’s given him another shot at a victory on the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour after coming close with a fourth-place finish in Cape Town two weeks ago.
“The round started pretty hot with a couple of birdies in the first two holes. The conditions were great this morning. My ball striking was really good and my distance control with my irons and wedges was good so I created a lot of birdie chances. I’m really happy. I got to 10 under after the 14th and then bogeyed 16. But I’m really happy and in a good position for the rest of the week,” he said.
His nearest challenger is South Africa’s Kieron van Wyk, whose 63 included a chip-in for eagle on the driveable par-four 18th.
It was a low-scoring opening day, with Australia’s Austin Batista signing for an eight-under-par 64, and Peru’s Julian Perico bouncing back from a bogey and double bogey in his first three holes and playing his next 15 holes in 10 under par for a 65 to end the first day on seven under overall.
Ereno has made a very fast start to his season in South Africa with finishes of 22nd in the SDC Open and then fourth in the CIRCA Cape Town Open.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but I’ve been practising really hard and my game’s in a good spot at the moment. It’s been great in South Africa. The weather’s awesome and the courses have been great,” he said.
The Spaniard took full advantage of a beautifully calm morning at Durban Country Club, which is in exceptional condition for this tournament.
“I’m just really happy with how I played. If the wind does come I’ll be ready for it. But I loved this golf course from the moment I first saw it this week. I love this type of course.”
Van Wyk was equally pleased with his round.
“I played really well. I only missed one green so hit the ball really nicely, and then I rolled in a couple of 30-foot putts. I always play well on golf courses where you have to position yourself and think your way around. It plays to my short-game strengths,” he said.
SCORES
10 - Pablo Ereno
-9 - Kieron van Wyk
-8 - Austin Bautista
-7 - Julian Perico
-7 - Luke Brown, Lorenzo Scalise, Oliver Bekker, Nikhil Rama
-6 - Pieter Moolman
-5 - Jean Hugo
-5 - Jacques Blaauw, Alfie Plant, Wilco Nienaber, Malcolm Mitchell, Santiago Tarrio, James Mack, Victor Pastor