Fuente: © Southern Africa Tour
http://www.sunshinetour.com/

GOLF: SOUTHERN AFRICA TOUR: Abery holds challengers at bay in Polokwane

/noticias.info/ A red-hot Warren Abery sounded an ominous warning to the rest of the field when he blistered his way to a sizzling 63 and the lead in the first round of the R1-million Limpopo Classic at Polokwane Golf Club.

Abery’s stockpile of nine birdies against a single drop saw the 30-year old Natalian top the early leaderboard, but his two-shot advantage was cut to one when Johannesburg young gun, Ross Wellington, managed to finish his round before play was called off due to failing light.

The fierce lightning storms caused two lengthy suspensions during the afternoon and left six players to return on Friday morning to complete their rounds.

Johannesburg’s Ryan Tipping, who briefly held the lead at six-under before Abery and Wellington overhauled him, dropped to a tie for third on 65 alongside Mark Murless.

Among the group of players bunched together on four-under 68 is Johary Raveloarison, a 23-year old affiliate member from Antananarivo in Madagascar, playing in his first season on the Sunshine Tour.

Pre-tournament favourites Bradford Vaughan and Richard Sterne failed to light up the leaderboard on day one.

Sterne, playing in the morning draw, who had a morning tee-off time, signed for a three-under 68, while the defending champion cobbled together a jumble of par saves with two bogeys and five birdies in the late afternoon to join Sterne at 13th on the leaderboard.

On the flipside, the overnight leader and 2005 Nashua Masters champion, was almost nonchalant about his round.

“The course is in great nick,” he said. “It’s playing quite long due to the rain, but the rough is nice and high and the greens are the best I’ve seen them. I played well today; I think key today was the fact that I missed only one green.”

"I gained a lot of experience in Europe this year and I like the fact that I playing more consistently."

The title-hungry Tipping is hunting a maiden pro win at the same venue where he defeated rising black star, James Kamte for the 2003 Limpopo Amateur Open

“I love this course; I know what to do out there and that gives me a lot of confidence,” said Tipping, “I am really fed up with qualifying. I’ve worked hard and this week I am chasing the title.”

The fierce lightning storms caused two lengthy suspensions during the afternoon. Six players, still to complete their rounds, will return on Friday morning and the second round is set to tee off at 06h30. notas_de_prensa_archivo