Two-time United States Open champion Retief Goosen’s hot putter guided Team Lincoln to a two-shot lead after the first round of the 2006 Nelson Mandela Invitational, hosted by Gary Player.
The Goose and senior pro Bobby Lincoln signed for 10-under-par 62 thanks to an inward nine 29 from Goosen at the Arabella Country Estate.
John Bland and Alan Michell were in second at eight-under 64. Mark McNulty and Charl Schwartzel were a further shot behind, along with early pace-setters James Kamte and Hugh Baiocchi. Kamte went out in 31 but struggled with 38 on the back nine.
In the team fourball alliance competition, professionals John Mashego, Adilson da Silva and amateurs Lucas Radebe and Selwyn Nathan led on 15-under from Team Sandy Lyle and Team McNulty.
Radebe, the former Bafana Bafana skipper who plays off a 24 handicap, contributed five net birdies and a gross birdie when his tee-shot on the par-three 14th stopped an inch from being a hole-in-one.
Goosen was in magnificent touch after the turn, carding seven birdies and two pars for a virtually flawless nine holes of golf. His putter was on fire, after the player said putting had been his biggest problem during the season.
”It’s nice to have made a few putts for a change,” Goosen said. ”After seven holes, though, Bobby and I were getting a bit worried, but I hit a good four-iron into the eighth. I missed the eagle putt but made birdie and then Bobby hit a great shot into nine for a birdie, and that got the momentum going.
”There hasn’t been a great deal wrong with my putting stroke, but there’s been a problem with reading the greens and lines. The back nine wasn’t playing too tough, except the last two holes perhaps.
”It could have been better if I could have birdied the two par-fives.”
Bland and Michell complemented each other, with the steady senior pro splitting the fairways and allowing Michell to take chances with his long drives on the par fives.
”It was quite easy for me because John doesn’t miss many fairways, so if I wanted to go for the big drive I knew he was always there,” said Michell, who gained entry to the tournament by winning the Coca-Cola Charity Championship at the same venue earlier in the week.
Defending champion Vincent Tshabalala and teammate Doug McGuigan have some work to do on Sunday after shooting four-under 68.
Host Gary Player and his playing partner Trevor Immelman were also on four-under. The 71-year-old Player had the satisfaction of outscoring his junior playing partner.
Teenage golfing sensation Ashleigh Simon, playing as a celebrity, shot an impressive five-under 67, while her South African Amateur teammate Kelli Shean carded 73. — Sapa