Ireland’s David Higgins claimed a share of the early clubhouse lead in the Sunshine Tour’s Telcom PGA Championship today after carving out an impressive 66 in the sweltering South African heat.
Higgins’ six-under par round left him in a five way tie with American Bruce Vaughan and South African trio; Andrew McLardy, Michael Kirk and Tim Clark at the Woodhill Country Club in Pretoria.
Clark, the South African Open winner from a fortnight ago, maintains his game is not a sharp as it needs to be before he travels to America to play the USPGA Tour full-time:
"I thought my SA Open win sorted that out. But I think it's just a case of me not having played tournament golf for so long. I'm just not comfortable with the putter."
"I'm a bit disappointed that I only managed to play the par-fives in one-under," added Clark who may protest too much considering today’s score and he is the one who also leads the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.
Higgins had a comfortable front nine reaching the turn in three-under 33 thanks to a run of three birdies from the fifth.
The Waterville professional, who missed out on his European Tour Card this year, mirrored his front nine total on the inward half. Four birdies and a solitary bogey at the 14th completed the convincing start.
Stephen Browne, the European Amateur champion who only turned pro at the end of last year, had a solid level par round of 72. Four birdies cancelled out as many bogeys leaving the Dubliner with all to play for.
Peter Lawrie left himself with a more difficult task of making the halfway cut. The 27-year-old slumped to a disappointing opening 76.