Players walking to to putt out on the 18th at St Francis Links during Vodacom Origins of Golf

It would seem the Golfing Gods are smiling down on St Francis of late. Three nigh perfect days for the Calamari Classic last week , miserable weather the day after its completion. Two decent days whilst the pro’s warmed up for the Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament on Monday and Tuesday allowing Jean Hugo time to set a St Francis Links course record with a scintillating 65. Sadly the Gods were a little fatigued for the Pro-Am on Wednesday when the weather turned really nasty rather spoiling the aspirations of some amateurs looking forward to showing the Pro’s how to play the game.

Well rested, the Gods again produced perfect weather for the pro-tournament which started bright and early yesterday morning. For a while it looked as though Jean Hugo was on his way to another course record with birdies on the second and seventh and two eagles on the third and sixth and a dropped a shot on the 13th but finished his round with a 5-under round 67. Tied alongside Jean on 5-under are Ulrich van den Bergh who had 6 birdies but dropped a shot on the Par 5, third hole,  Alan Mitchell who played flawless golf without a bogey on his card and Jean-Paul Strydom with a dropped shots on 10th and 12th but an eagled the 13th.

Eddie Taylor was looking good on the leaderboard with four holes to play but dropped four shots on the last four holes with a double bogey  and two bogeys. Four players, Andrew Curlewis, Divan van den Heever, Pieter Moolman and Charl Coetzee are all a shot back at minus 4 with Trevor Mahoney , Tyrone Ferreira , Zander Lombard and Bryce Bibby a further shot back at minus three.

The weather for the next two days is looking good with a light westerly today changing to an easterly on Saturday, so it looks like we are in for two exciting days of golf. So rub on the sunscreen, don you cap and get to the Links to watch some great golf.

LEADER BOARD

1              J. Hugo                               -5           67
1              U. van den Berg                -5            67
1              A. Michell                          -5            67
1              J. Strydom                        -5            67
5              A. Curlewis                       -4            68
5              D. van den Heever          -4            68
5              P. Moolman                     -4            68
5              C. Coetzee                        -4            68
9              T. Mahoney                     -3            69
9              T. Ferreira                       -3            69
9              Z. Lombard                     -3            69
9              B. Bibby                           -3            69
13           R. West                             -2            70
13           L. Ferreira                        -2            70
13           D. Gerber                         -2            70
13           J. du Buisson                  -2            70