GOLF
Andy Capostagno Tim Clark (26) made a sentimental journey back to the top of the leader board in early play at the Bells South African Open. Born down the coast in Umkomaas, Clark went round Durban Country Club in six under par 66 with seven birdies and a bogey. Clark was a star amateur golfer in KwaZulu-Natal, but has been campaigning in the United States for eight years. He studied at North Carolina State University and was ranked among the top eight college golfers in the US. He won two events on the Canadian Tour and set a record for a 72-hole score when winning the New Brunswick Open with 27-under par. Last year Clark played his way on to the USPGA Tour, but in his second event damaged a wrist cartilage so severely that he missed the rest of the season. He will be granted a medical exemption to play the tour this year. Students of form might have deduced that Clark would be there or thereabouts this week, as he has had something of a love affair with Durban CC. He won the Natal junior title for three years in a row from age 15 to 17. Clark praised the greens and said that if the wind stayed away a low score would win this week. He and the rest of the early starters benefited from the benign conditions, with Des Terblanche, Ashley Roestoff and James Kingston also shooting 66s and Sweden’s Carl Pettersson firing a remarkable eight-under 64. Pettersson was out in 31 and continued his bogey-free golf on the front nine. He birdied the 10th, the first hole he played and said: “That was a good way to start the year!” Pettersson is the much-travelled son of a Volvo dealer who spent four years in Britain and moved to the US with the family aged 14. He was at the same University as Clark the two actually shared a house while Clark was campaigning on the Buy.com Tour. “Tim’s two behind me, I’d like to keep it there,” said Pettersson.