WHAT’S ON SA OPEN

LOUIS Oosthuizen, pictured, knew he had to go low on the easier Bushwillow course yesterday to put himself in position to launch a proper challenge for the South African Open title once he moved over to the trickier and longer Firethorn course at Randpark Golf Club.

He said it would be crucial to make a lot of birdies and he did exactly that – making nine in all in a stunning bogey-free 62 in his opening round – to lead by one stroke from two players after yesterday’s action. Seeking a first national open title, Oosthuizen went out early yesterday and turned in 32 strokes before adding six more birdies to his score on the back nine.

“I don’t remember much of the Bushwillow course, having last played it around 2000 or 2001,” said Oosthuizen prior to his first round.

But he remembered everything he did on it yesterday.

“Anytime, anywhere if you go nineunder it will feel nice. It was one of those rounds where you didn’t have to look at the card, you could just play,” Oosthuizen said. “I drove it well, gave myself opportunities to hit it close, and I putted nicely. Birdie after birdie just came.”

He said it helped having a steady breeze behind him for much of the round, but also credited his good driving in, at times, gusty conditions.

“Hitting the driver down-wind you could get it close, sometimes within 70 yards of the hole. And if you’re putting nicely it’s a course you can score on,” said Oosthuizen, who added he was pleased he had negotiated the Bushwillow course so well and could now focus solely on the tougher Firethorn course.

All the players this week play a round each on the Bushwillow and Firethorn courses with the final two rounds played on the Firethorn layout only.

“There’s a long way to go. I’ve got the one course out the way and can now focus on the main course. I prefer it that way ... I can now get into a rhythm hopefully on one course only,” Oosthuizen said.

Sitting in second place, a stroke off Oosthuizen, at eight-under-par after rounds of 63, were 1 330-ranked Zambian Madalitso Muthiya and the USA’s winner in Mauritius last week, Kurt Kitayama.

Muthiya also ripped up the Bushwillow course with eight birdies and no bogeys, while Kitayama continued his good recent form with a stunning round in the later afternoon on the Firethorn layout.

He made six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 14th for a course recordequalling 63.

Kitayama, having scored so well on Firethorn, will fancy his chances on the seemingly easier Bushwillow course today as will Zander Lombard, who also scored well on Firethorn yesterday.

Lombard made a bogey five on his opening hole, but then recorded eight birdies for a seven-under-par 64. |