Hold on tight, Gavin
Malaysian won’t be so wild after roller-coaster start
PETALING JAYA: Top national golfer Gavin Kyle Green began his Joburg Open debut in Johannesburg, South Africa, in roller-coaster fashion, carding a first round two-under 70 to be six shots off the lead.
The 23-year-old started off promisingly with birdies in the first, fourth, fifth and eighth holes to make the turn at four-under at the Randpark Golf Club’s Firethorn Course on Thursday.
But all his efforts were immediately undone as Gavin dropped four strokes with two straight bogeys and a double bogey in a three-hole stretch from the 10th.
Despite the disappointing run, Gavin was able to regroup and fired an eagle on the parfive 14th to get back to two-under before parring the remaining four holes to finish six shots behind early pace-setter Keenan Davidse.
The South African fired an eight-under 63 courtesy of nine birdies and a bogey at the par-71 Bushwillow Course to lead the 240man event by one stroke from six others.
“It was frustrating to concede the four shots in that three-hole stretch. Other than that, it was really solid,” said Gavin.
“Glad that I came back with an eagle (on the 14th hole). That changed things a little.”
Gavin was adamant that a 70 is still a great start as he seeks improvement in the second round on the Bushwillow course.
“I’m still in it. I will try and stick to the same game plan and try to keep my ball more in play and not be so wild,” he said.
“People say the Bushwillow course is easier but I don’t think so. It is shorter but it’s narrow. If the wind blows, it will play a big part.”
Gavin needs at least a top-60 finish to stand a chance of sealing his Asian Tour Order of Merit title this week.
The Joburg Open, which is tri-sanctioned by the Sunshine, European and Asian Tours, is the penultimate event of the Asian Tour calendar.