Today the second edition of the Nelson Mandela Bay Championship has kicked off in Hunewood, held on the shores of the Indian Ocean on a unique links in the country. The tournament begins with a rampant Martin Couvra who has handed in a card of 61 strokes to become the leader after the first 18 holes of the tournament. Good general start for the Spaniards led by a great Javi Sainz who has signed a good 66 and is on the verge of the top 10.
From South Africa yesterday they already told us, it is a field that in favourable conditions many birdies can be made and today, dear players, you have found it in the best conditions you are going to have all week. The reality is that from tomorrow at noon very hard wind conditions are expected, a real gale and today it was important to win the most number of strokes on the field.
Twenty players have made 66 strokes or better on this first day. The maxim was to go all out and especially those who have gone out earlier have had more chances to take advantage of the opportunity. The wind has increased throughout the day, but a joke with what they will have to face tomorrow from about twelve in the morning. Lucky, for now, those who go out tomorrow in the morning shift. A player at eleven under par, three players at minus nine and as many at minus eight. A real storm of birdies waiting for the gale.
The boy with the eternal smile has acted as the great ‘local’ standard-bearer of the birdie storm. We say local because last year he became the first player in history to win these three tournaments in a row in South Africa: Triple Crown of Stroke Play, the Proudfoot Trophy and the South African Amateur.
The 21-year-old Frenchman, Martin Couvra dazzled today in Hunewood with a card that includes five birdies and three eagles! without any mistakes along the way. The Frenchman has acknowledged that it is the first time in his career that he has achieved three eagles in one day.
Couvra already fascinated last year on this circuit when he won the Challenge of Spain still being an amateur and qualifying in just twelve tournaments for the Road to Mallorca. His start to the season has kept expectations high. Three tournaments, three cuts surpassed including a sixth place two weeks ago. Also in the DP World Tour he was close to the top 10 at the end of the year in the South African Open. This boy, a great friend of the other great talent of his generation Tom Vaillant, points to big things and sooner rather than later we will see him emigrate from this circuit. Let’s enjoy it while we have it.
Javi Sainz arrived this week in search of sensations after not having had the expected start to the season. Just four rounds of competition in the three previous weeks of the South African tour as he did not make the cut in the two tournaments he played and in the Bain Whisky Cape Town Open he could not play as he was the first reserve of the tournament. Many weeks out with a lot of hidden work that today have begun to bear fruit with a card of 66 strokes that place him just one stroke from the top ten. The Basque has built his round on getting the most out of the par fives to which he has been able to get a birdie on each hole. Three more birdies and just one bogey have completed his round. Javi knows this course well after his great performance last year when he finished among the top twenty of the tournament.
Three other Spaniards follow Javi closely with the intention of climbing as high as possible in the table. Ángel Ayora (-5), Quim Vidal (-4) and Víctor Pastor (-3). Special mention for the very young Ángel Ayora who continues to take advantage of the invitations he receives and has sneaked among the top twenty of the day after an impressive round with four consecutive birdies between the flags of 15 to 18. His only mistake came on hole 9 (his last hole of the day). Up to five eagle opportunities were counted during the day without converting any. Very good feelings and tomorrow he will seek to take advantage of the morning shift which, in principle, will offer an advantage. The other big name is Quim Vidal. Consistent and safe, Quim continues to add rounds under par and with today’s 68 he is two strokes above the cut.
Right now the only Spaniard who would not be able to play the weekend is Borja Virto (+3) and who will need to fly very low tomorrow to give himself options to make the cut.
Of the players in the lead chasing Couvra, the young 22-year-old Australian, Cayden Hopewell (-9) and the South African Ritchie (-8) stand out, who continues to demonstrate the good form he is in. Get ready, because from tomorrow there are curves coming.
