Liam Grehan kept the momentum rolling as he opened with a three-under-par 69 at the Gary and Vivienne Player Challenge after pre-qualifying for the tournament on Monday.
Grehan is in a share of 14th place and trails leading trio Jason Roets, Samuel Simpson and Jonathan Broomhead by four shots at Benoni Country Club.
The Mullingar man who earned a Sunshine Tour card at Q-School last month opened with four straight pars before two birdies in three holes on the fifth and seventh kickstarted him into gear.
A dropped shot on the eighth did little to halt his progress and he roared into contention with three successive birdies around the turn.
A three-putt bogey from Grehan on the par-3 12th and a bogey on 17 was followed by a closing birdie which will make his dinner taste much better.
“It would be nice to start making a few quid,” joked Grehan who has one more tournament after this week before he heads back to Ireland during the Sunshine Tour’s summer break.
“First cut made last week but hopefully I can step it up this week and make a bit more.”
Rowan Lester is one-over after a 73.
Scoring HERE
Leave a comment