A massacre was expected on the first day of the SDC Championship, a DP World Tour tournament that started this Thursday at the St Francis Links in Eastern Cape, South Africa. At least, that’s what the radar seemed to indicate. Wind, wind, and more wind. Gale at times and gusts that made playing golf and, above all, putting very difficult. So, how is it that the lead is seven under par and 29 players have managed to beat the course?
Well, let’s start with the basics. The level is getting higher and higher and the players know how to defend themselves even in the most adverse circumstances, although what has weighed the most has been the preparation of the course. In view of what was coming, tees have been moved forward and greens have been slowed down. Things have been made much easier, to the point that some think it’s too much.
There are up to six holes that have been played from advanced tees. To know:
Hole 2: -25
Hole 3: -45
Hole 8: -29
Hole 11: -30
Hole 15: -38
Hole 16: -57
Obviously, all of them were played against the wind. If we add to this that a good part of the rest has been played with the wind in favour, it has been the necessary cocktail to see notable results.
The leader is, of course, South African, Pieter Moolman (-7), with a one-shot lead over Englishman Daniel Brown (-6) and two over Wilco Nienaber and Malcolm Mitchell (-5), also from South Africa. With a score of -4, up to five players are piled up, among them the Italians Matteo Manassero and Francesco Laporta.
The Elviras continue at cruising speed through Africa. Nacho Elvira (-3) is one shot off the top 10 with a card of 69 strokes, with three birdies, one eagle and two bogeys. His golf has been very orderly again and the driver, which he continues to adjust, has behaved notably today. The Cantabrian was satisfied with the performance, without getting into too many problems, beyond those caused by the wind on some greens.
Precisely on the greens is where Manu Elvira‘s (-2) drawback has been to not have finished even higher. He played very well from tee to green, fought outstandingly against the wind, but the gusts made putting very difficult for him. Two of his bogeys, in fact, came with two three-putts on the 7th and 15th. Both Nacho and Manu are in the top 25, a condition they already know is essential to have a chance to fight for victory on Sunday.
Further back finished Santi Tarrio (PAR) and Sebas García Rodríguez (+9), who had a day to forget. Beyond the Spaniards, showing that, despite everything, it has been a tough day for some, there are very large scores such as those of Zander Lombard (+5) or Keita Nakajima (+8).
