Today marked the start of the 2025 season of the Challenge Tour with the first round of the SDC Open, the first of four tournaments played consecutively in South Africa. The first leader of the year in this circuit is South African Altin Van der Merwe (-6), who interestingly teed off in the first match of the day and completed a flawless round, without bogeys, with four birdies and an eagle.
Alongside the leader, in the same match, was Adri Arnaus (-3), the most decorated Spanish player among the seven who have gathered for this kickoff in South African lands (the tournament is held at the Zebula Golf Estate & Spa course in Limpopo). His round was much more eventful, with seven birdies and four bogeys, but his start should be considered notable.
His and, in general, that of the entire Spanish Armada, as Lucas Vacarisas (-3) also signed a card of 69 strokes, just like Arnaus, while Borja Virto (-2), Albert Boneta (-2), and Quim Vidal (-2) delivered scores of 70 strokes, and Sebas García (-1) of 71. The only Spanish player who did not finish below par today was Víctor Pastor (PAR), but he has enough room to manoeuvre to make the cut tomorrow, which could be set at -1 or -2.
