Armitage has another top round to enjoy
SKELMANTHORPE golf pro Marcus Armitage followed up his excellent performance in the Australian PGA Championship with another solid showing in South Africa.
The 30-year-old who plays out of Howley Hall near Batley shot a two-under par first round of 69 in the Joburg Open at Randpark Golf Club.
Armitage, who finished Tied 15th on eight under in the PGA at RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast last week, was level on the front nine, after a bogey on the third and birdie on the fifth.
He then birdied 11 and 12 before dropping a stroke on the par four 14th, but he then regained it on the par-five 17th to finish on 69.
South African Keenan Davidse overcame illness to take a one-shot lead after the first round.
The local favourite missed the cut in Mauritius last week as a flu virus ran through his family, and checked himself into hospital for four days before teeing it up in Johannesburg.
The 28-year-old showed no ill effects as he got round the Bushwillows Course in an eight under par 63 to lead the way from English duo Matthew Baldwin and James Morrison, South African trio Jared Harvey, Ockie Strydom and Erik van Rooyen, and German Sebastian Heisele.
A field of 240 were split over the Bushwillows and Firethorn courses, with all players playing the longer Firethorn over the weekend after the cut.
Davidse took advantage of his round on the shorter layout, birdieing the first, fourth, fifth, eighth, 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th with a single bogey on the sixth.
“When I played the Sunshine Tour event at Simola my little boy was sick with a bad chest,” he told europeantour.com.
“Then my wife had flu and then I got flu and lost a lot of weight. I couldn’t deal with that and the heat in Mauritius so I checked myself into hospital for four days.
“I didn’t really have any expectations coming into the week. I’m just out here to have fun, so I’m very blessed to be playing well. It’s always nice leading a big tournament and especially the Joburg Open.”
Baldwin had to come through the European Tour Qualifying School in November after losing his playing privileges and he carded eagles on the par-five first and 12th to go with four birdies and a bogey, with Morrison bogey-free in his round of 64.
English pair Nathan Kimsey and Richard McEvoy were at six under, a shot ahead of countrymen Daniel Brooks and Ross McGowan.
Sergio Garcia has been named the European Tour’s golfer of the year.
The Spaniard ended a long wait for his first major title at the Masters in April and won three tournaments in total, more than any other player.
Garcia defeated Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose to win at Augusta in his 74th major.