Alejandro Del Rey posted a bogey-free nine under par round of 63 to take a share of the Mangaung Open lead alongside fellow Spaniard Scott Fernandez and South African Luke Jerling after a weather-affected opening day in Bloemfontein.
Spaniard Del Rey, who set the lowest round in Challenge Tour history when he posted a 14 under par round of 58 at the 2021 Swiss Challenge, carded nine birdies without a blemish at Bloemfontein Golf Club to join Fernandez and Jerling in a share of the lead.
Del Rey’s opening round was his lowest effort since writing his name into the Challenge Tour history books and the 24-year-old was pleased to go low again in Bloemfontein after admitting he has struggled for form so far during the South African swing.
“It was pretty fun to be honest,” he said. “It’s been tough the last three weeks so it was great to get a good round going again. I feel like I needed a low round so today feels really good.
“I drove the ball so well today and everything single drive was down the middle. It makes it so much easier and today I putted really well. It’s nice to have a bogey free round and I’m excited to get it going again as quick as possible tomorrow at Schoeman Park.”
The leading trio have a two-stroke advantage over South African Justin Walters, who opened with a seven under par round of 65 at Schoeman Park Golf Club, Spain’s Emilio Cuartero Blanco and Italian Jacopo Vecchi Fossa, who all sit in a tie for fourth with over half of the field still to complete their opening rounds due to play being suspended at 4:34pm local time.
Co-leader Fernandez made a bogey at the opening hole but recovered brilliantly to card six birdies and two eagles, making the most of the short par fives at Bloemfontein Golf Club to surge up the leaderboard on day one.
“It was great to have a nine under par round,” he said. “I started my day with a bogey and at that point I never thought my day would turn out like it did. I have struggled recently in South Africa due to the heat and altitude and it takes a bit of getting used to. I think today was the best I have played and I decided to attack the greens, especially on the par fives.
“On 14 I had a tough tee shot but decided to grip it and rip it as hard as I could down the middle. I hit a decent approach and then made a long 25-foot putt which was nice.
“You have to know your numbers off the tee around these courses because you can get some tough lies if you miss the fairway.”
Five players share seventh place on six under par, including Road to Mallorca Number Three Christopher Mivis and South African MJ Viljoen.
Round one will resume at 7:00am local time on Friday March 4, with round two beginning at 9:30am.
