Staff WriterHerman Loubser may have started Friday’s first round of the Vodacom Origins of Golf looking like he’d woken up on the wrong side of the fairway, but by the end of the day at Parys Golf & Country Estate, the South African had stitched together a sparkling five-under-par 67 to grab a one-shot lead.
Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi is breathing down his neck after a tidy 68, while a logjam of ten players sits at three-under 69, all still very much in the hunt. On the Sunshine Ladies Tour side, Kelsey Nicholas and Gabrielle Venter share top billing after opening with one-over 73s.
Loubser’s round was a proper rollercoaster. Starting on the back nine, he bogeyed his opening hole and made what he called “another silly drop” at the 16th after a poor tee shot.
But an eagle at the 18th turned the tide. By the time the dust settled, he’d carded five birdies to sit at the top of the pile.
“I started off with a bogey. It was a cold morning so it was tough. Then I made another silly drop on the 16th after a poor tee-shot. The eagle on the 18th helped me to bounce back so the overall round was really good. I had a good day,” said Loubser.
It’s been a season of close calls for the 26-year-old—second at the Mopani Zambia Open, joint-second at the FNB Eswatini Open—and the form book says a win is coming.
“The confidence is pretty good at the moment as I am working on the right things. It’s definitely getting better and a really nice feeling and place to be. Second places are also good but hopefully a win is coming pretty soon,” he added.
His strategy for Saturday? No heroics—yet.
“Tomorrow is only the second round, so there is no need to do anything crazy. I just need to get myself in decent positions to shoot a good score, in order to be in a good position for the final round.”
The week’s action began with a two-day pro-am that produced its own feel-good story. Amateur Steven Matthews, paired with Sunshine Tour professional Thomas Spreadborough on day one and Jacques Blaauw on day two, won the event and booked his spot in November’s final at Pezula Golf Estate.
“This was a fantastic experience. To have qualified for the final is incredible, although it leaves me with a bit of a challenge because the final is right on my wedding anniversary,” Matthews laughed.
Off the leaderboard, the Vodacom Origins of Golf also made a difference at grass-roots level. Sunshine Tour pros ran a golf clinic for the Free State/Northern Cape chapter of the South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB).
“It was so productive for our young golfers. As a coach it was also valuable for me because I learnt a few things from the professionals that I can now pass on to our golfers,” Tshepo Mokoena, SAGDB Coach and Assistant Manager.
Loubser will carry his slim lead into round two knowing the field is stacked behind him—and in this game, a one-shot cushion is about as sturdy as a wet umbrella in a Free State breeze.
