Pablo Ereno leads by one-shot after going low on the opening day of the Jonsson Workwear Durban Open, the last of four co-sanctioned events between the HotelPlanner Tour and Sunshine Tour in South Africa.
The Spaniard, whose day included ten birdies, an eagle and two bogeys, signed for a ten under par round of 62 at Durban Country Club, to lead by one from South African Kieron van Wyk.
Ereno, starting on the first, used just 31 strokes on the front nine before putting together a red-hot run around the turn to post a career-best total at a professional event.
“I think that’s my lowest ever round in a tournament, so I’m really happy with how I played,” he said.
“My ball striking was really good which meant I was able to hit several good golf shots. I had some good birdie chances so happy with how I played.”
The 22-year-old pieced together five birdies in a row from the tenth to move clear at the top on a low-scoring opening day on South Africa’s east coast.
After playing the final four holes in level par, Ereno highlighted his pinpoint approach play as he pulled clear at the top.
“My approach play was good through that stretch [from the tenth],” he added.
“I hit the green in two on the tenth, then hit it really close on 11, to nearly eight feet on the 12th and then hit the par five 14th in two. I found a groove and managed to keep going.
“It’s a tricky golf course. There are a lot of holes where you have to be clever off the tee, rather than just hitting driver all the time.
“The key is to keep it in play and make the most of the birdie chances. There are shorter holes where you can hit a wedge close, so the key is really to find the fairway and rely on good approach shots.”
Ereno is embarking on his first full HotelPlanner Tour season and currently sits 11th on the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings following a positive start to the campaign.
And the Spaniard, who finished inside the top five at the CIRCA Cape Town Open a fortnight ago, is eager to remain positive over the next 54 holes in Durban.
“It’s been great so far so going to keep the good vibes going for the rest of the week,” he added. “I love it down here and I was really excited to come at the start of the season.”
Australian Austin Bautista sits in third position on eight under par, while South Africans Luke Brown, Oliver Bekker and Nikhil Rama share fourth place on seven under with Peru’s Julian Perico, Italian Lorenzo Scalise and Pedro Figueiredo from Portugal.
The second round will get under way at 6:20am local time, with Ereno teeing it up alongside South Africans Brown and Bryce Easton at 12:30pm.
