Iván Cantero (-1) was on track to sign the best result of the season on the first day of the SDC Championship in South Africa. His start of the round has been sensational. By the 8th hole, he was four under par, with two birdies, an eagle and, most importantly, no mistakes on his card. The Asturian had moved up and was seriously vying to deliver the best performance of the afternoon shift, also heavily punished by the wind.
On hole 11, the most difficult by far today at the St Francis Links in Eastern Cape, the first stumble occurred. Double bogey. It’s a par 4 that was played against the wind and with a lot of danger on both sides of the fairway. The start was more or less like threading a needle. No birdie was made all day, to give you an idea.
Be that as it may, Cantero has paid the toll and has recovered wonderfully. He got up with two birdies in the following holes. Again, everything in order. Again looking up, at the top spots, provisionally in the top 10 with five holes left.
But there was still a second blow in his round. This one harder and more damaging. On hole 15, the second most difficult hole of the day. Cantero made a triple bogey. Another par 4. Another blow and, again, to the situation of one under par, a result with which he finished after signing off the day with three consecutive pars.
Cantero’s round can be seen as a glass half full or half empty. The second option is to give a lot of importance to that five over par in two holes. The first, which the Llanisco should stick with, is to highlight that six under par score in 16 holes. Really, today’s round is a confirmation of what was already seen last week in Kenya, when he finished in 23rd place, with four rounds under par. He now has five consecutive rounds in the DP World Tour. The fact may seem irrelevant to you, but don’t be fooled, it’s the first time he’s achieved such a streak in his career in the first division. This is his 42nd tournament. Something good is brewing…
The best Spaniards of the afternoon shift were Ángel Hidalgo and Adrián Otaegui, both with two under par. They have placed 26th, five strokes off the lead held by Moolman, who played in the morning, and Shaun Norris, who managed to tie him in the afternoon. Both are at -7. In addition, Adri Arnaus has made +1 and is just outside the cut.
Another difficult wind day is expected this Friday, although according to the forecast it will blow in the opposite direction. Thus, the holes that have been the most difficult today should be the easiest tomorrow and vice versa… We’ll see who comes out better from this 180-degree turn.
