Manu Elvira (-4) has started the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open sensationally, the last tournament of the year on the DP World Tour. The Spanish golfer has positioned himself third after delivering a magnificent card of 68 strokes. He is just one behind the lead shared by veteran Scotsman Scott Jamieson (-5) and Casey Jarvis (-5), another of the young South African golf talents ready to follow the path set by Jayden Schaper after his victory last Sunday at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. By the way, Schaper (-3) has also moved up early on.
Elvira’s round did not start in the best way. He bogeyed the 1st hole. It did not seem like the best omen on a course that can be quite challenging if you’re not sharp from the tee. However, Manu adhered to the popular saying that what starts badly, ends well. His management of the par 5s has been exemplary. He birdied all four on the Heritage La Reserva Golf Links course. He quickly turned the day around with three birdies between holes 5 and 8, precisely taking advantage of the first two par 5s and the par 4 of the 6th.
Manu had already performed very well in the last round of the Alfred Dunhill with a card of 67 strokes. The sensations were very good, and he has demonstrated this with a powerful start in Mauritius. The Cantabrian was the tip of the iceberg of a strong start by the Spanish golfers. Under-par cards were not given away. It required hard work.
In addition to Manu, the starts of Rocco Repetto (-2), Adri Arnaus (-2), and Quim Vidal (-2) stand out. All of them have placed in the top 20, just one stroke away from the top 10. The first two improved as their rounds progressed, finishing very well over the back nine. Meanwhile, Vidal battled against the course. He experienced everything. He bogeyed two par 5s, made a double bogey, and still managed to finish the day brilliantly thanks to a tremendous birdie ability. He made seven.
A good start also for Ángel Ayora (-1), signing three birdies in the last five holes, as well as the PAR rounds of Sebas García and Eugenio Chacarra. They are absolutely in the tournament. Sebas salvaged the day with three birdies in the last four holes. In general, the Spaniards were able to finish strong. The downside of the day was for Iván Cantero (+7). A tough day for the Asturian, who will have to play very well this Friday to make the cut provisionally set at +1, although it is likely to end at +2 or +3, especially if the wind continues as it did today.
Beyond the Spaniards, the first round of Ryan Gerard (-4) is noteworthy. The American is vying for his presence at the Masters Tournament. So far, things are going well. He needs to be tied for fourth with only one player to finish the year in the world top 50 and thus gain his first entry to Augusta. Daniel Brown (-1) also did not fare badly, the other player competing for the Masters this week, although the Englishman is under much more pressure as he needs to finish first.
