Playing some Phil Mickelson-type southpaw golf, American left-hander Paul Peterson blitzed Royal Johannesburg & Kensington’s par-71 West Course with a bogey-free nine-under-par 62 on Thursday to be leader in the clubhouse before a waterlogged course saw play called off for the day at 3.20pm.
“Yeah, it was fun out there today; birdieing half of the holes is never bad and bogey-free to match, so I felt really good,” said the 28-year-old who campaigns on the European Tour and earned his debut win and only win so far last August in the Czech Masters.
“I got into a nice rhythm today and I put a new putter in play this week. It proved to be a good first round with it, so I’m really happy.”
And a wet round? “Wet! You bet!
I am very impressed with the condition of the two courses and the greens; even them putting mowers on the fairways. I wasn’t sure they were going to be able to do that so hats off to the superintendent and everybody for getting the course prepped. I heard you got like 140mm over the last few days, so - hats off.”
Peterson pointed out that one can get mud on the ball in the rough, which can make the next shot challenging. Fortunately, the lift, clean and place rule is in operation on the fairways and since he kept most of his shots away from the long stuff, the American had a trouble-free day. “I feel like I’ve been playing really well the last few weeks and I felt like a round like this has been building so to have it happen sooner than I thought is great.
“I have always been someone who putted pretty well and hit good drivers; my iron play is improving, my wedges are improving and when I’m missing the greens I feel really confident with what I’m doing around the greens. I’m feeling like I’m in a good place right now.”
Two Englishmen - Paul Waring and young Aaron Rai, produced seven-under-par 65s on the par-72 East Course, considered by most to be the more difficult of Royal’s two lay-outs, which put them in joint-second place on the leaderboard, while France’s Romain Langasque and South Africa’s Jbe Kruger signed for six-under 65s on the West.
There were five players on 66 - Swede
Sebastian Soderberg (East), Italy’s Franceso Laporta (West), Spain’s Pep Angles (West) and South African duo Teaghan Gauche and Dean Burmester (both West) - before heavier, soaking rain started, making play impossible on the two courses. Dylan Frittelli was home in 67 on the East.
George Coetzee, winner here in 2014, was five-under-par, and bogey-free, through 12 holes on the East Course when play was called off, while Brazil’s SA-based Adilso da Silva was also minus five, also through 12 holes, on the West.
Defending champion Haydn Porteous, playing steady golf, was three under through 12 on the East.
Sunshine Tour Order of Merit leader Brandon Stone had four bogeys on the West on his way to a 70, clearly not what he was looking for as an opening round.
England’s Graeme Storm, who beat Rory McIlroy in a sudden death play-off in January in the BMW South African Open at Glendower, was one under through 12 on the East before the siren sounded. Weather permitting, first round play was due to resume at 6.45am today and it’s unlikely anyone will be able to match Peterson’s fabulous 62.
That other “Lefty” - Phil "The Thrill" Mickelson - would be proud of his younger compatriot.