Johannesburg: Bryn Flanagan fired a five-under par 67 on Monday to grab a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Mena Golf Tour’s Jo’burg City Masters, which is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Big Easy Tour.
On a day when cold, wet and windy conditions made things difficult, Flanagan remained unruffled, reeling off one eagle, four birdies and one bogey to seize the early initiative.
England’s Billy Spooner joined the South African duo of Kevin Rundle and Jaco Prinsloo in a tie for second on three-under 69, one shot ahead of a three-man group which included rising amateur David Meyers.
It was Flanagan who came out singing in the rain, thanks to a new putting approach, as well as experience gained from college golf in Houston.
“It was quite cold and wet, but I’m kind of used to the conditions having played in similar conditions back in Houston when I played college golf,” said the 24-year-old Krugersdorp native.
“I just drew on those experiences and you’ve just got to be patient out there and realise that the majority of the field are going to be knocked down from the word go because they aren’t really happy with the conditions,” he added.
Flanagan’s new putting approach yielded some impressive putts on the pristine putting surfaces at Glendower Golf Club, but the talented South African said it was still a work in progress. “Yeah, I had a major breakthrough with my putting. I kind of had enough of putting mediocre, so I just changed a few things and I’m excited about how I’m putting the ball. I had 28 putts today — I hardly ever break 30 putts — so I’m really happy about that.
“The course is beautiful, it’s immaculate. I think this rain softened up the greens, which helps a lot. I wouldn’t say the course is unplayable on a day like this, but if you just be patient and steady you can get a score out there.”
Highly-rated Englishman Haydn McCullen sits on one-under-par alongside four others, including 2007 Johnnie Walker Classic winner Anton Haig, while Thriston Lawrence, the 2015 Mena Golf Tour Order of Merit champion, settled for a level-par 72.
Bryandrew Roelofsz, the winner of last week’s South to East Challenge, stumbled to a 75 and would need to produce something special if he aims to haul himself back into contention.
