South Africans lead Joburg Open
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2008 Joburg Open | Round One | 11 Jan 2008
Two South Africans lead after the opening round of the Joburg Open in Johannesburg, Mark Murless and Tyrone Ferreira recording opening rounds of 65 during a day where rain and the damp underfoot conditions dominated most of the discussion.
Despite the weather, all 204 players completed round one at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
20-year-old Ferreira, who is playing in his first event as a professional after recently gaining his Sunshine Tour card, was South Africa’s leading amateur in 2007 and has made a quick impact in the paid ranks.
31-year-old Murless has been a regular on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour over the years and has three South African Tour victories behind him.
Both Murless and Ferreira played the less demanding West Course and will move over to the famed East Course tomorrow.
In a share of third place and one shot behind the leaders is 2007 Challenge Tour success story, England’s Ross McGowan alongside European Tour School graduates, Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal and Welshman Sion Beeb.
The best of the Australasians were Scott Barr and Terry Pilkadaris, who could only manage opening rounds of 74, while Steve Alker had 75 and Gareth Paddison a disappointing 77.
