VEREENIGING, 17 November 2015 – Philip Kruse fired a flawless five-under-par 67 to join in a four-way tie for the lead in the Harry Oppenheimer Trophy on Tuesday.

The Woodhill golfer opened with a birdie and reeled in four more on the back nine at Maccauvlei Golf Club to join fellow Gauteng North golfer Albert Venter, Brandon Cloete from Southern Cape and Luke Jerling from Eastern Province in pole position.

The joint leaders have a one shot advantage over Werner van Wyk from Central Gauteng and are two shots clear of Boland’s Herman Loubser, Slade Fick and fellow Ekurhuleni amateur Dylan Mostert, who triumphed in the Central Gauteng Open on Sunday.

Andre Nel from Southern Cape and Central Gauteng’s Darin de Smidt carded a pair of 70s to close out the top 10.

Venter is bidding for a second provincial title in as many weeks after breaking through in the Eastern Province Open a fortnight ago.

The State Mines junior was in contention again at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington on the weekend and finished in a tie for seventh. He made a solid start in Vereening and a lone bogey at the par-five 11th spoiled an otherwise perfect card.

Jerling and Cloete also surrendered just one shot each. Port Elizabeth’s Jerling bogeyed the short eighth, while Cloete from Pezula also dropped the 11th.

FIRST ROUND SCORES (top 10)
67 – Philip Kruse; Luke Jerling; Albert Venter; Brandon Cloete
68 – Werner van Wyk
69 – Dylan Mostert; Slade Fick; Herman Loubser
70 – Andre Nel; Darin de Smidt

PHOTO – Philip Kruse; credit Catherine Kotze / SASPA