By Michael Vlismas.
Caption: Cole Stevens. (Photo Credit: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour).
Edenvale (Gauteng) – Rookie Cole Stevens has made another strong push for a maiden Sunshine Tour title, while four shots behind him Luke Brown is challenging for back-to-back victories after a thrilling first round of the Stella Artois Players Championship at Glendower Golf Club on Thursday.
Stevens opened with an impressive 10-under-par 62 and is challenging for a victory once again this season after finishing tied third in the Rwanda Open and second in the Limpopo Championship.
“A 62 at Glendower is always a treat. I think that I was hitting the ball pretty solid. More so my chipping and my putting was definitely the strongest factor today,” Stevens said.
It’s been a remarkable debut season on the Sunshine Tour for Stevens, who is currently ranked 10th on the overall Courier Guy Order of Merit, and second on the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings.
“Since Rwanda my form of late has been pretty good. I am working with my team, my coach and mental coach, in trying to diminish some of my weaknesses and turning it into strengths. I just think some mental work still needs to be done as well as a few finishing touches.”
Stevens teed off the 10th and was two under par through his first three holes, and then added a further four birdies on his first nine. His second nine featured a run of five consecutive birdies followed by his only dropped shot of the day.
“Leading the first round is always great but the job is not finished. I will just keep to my processes and go out tomorrow like it is the first day. Once I wake up tomorrow it is a brand new day.”
His nearest challenger is Brown who started his week with a round of six-under-par 66 and who is looking for his third title this season and back-to-back wins after his victory in the Blu Label Unlimited Challenge.
“You always try and carry the previous week’s form, if you’ve done well, into the next week, and it seems like I did that quite good,” said Brown.
“A bogey-free round and I think it was just really good ball striking that added up to 66. I actually thought it might be even lower as I had a few birdie chances coming in. It’s still a long way to go, but 66 is a great start.”
Doug McGuigan rolled back the years as the 56-year-old opened with a three-under-par 69.