Former cricketer takes golf in all his stride

Former cricket ace Alwyn Vorster got the third Race to Q-School on the IGT Tour off to an explosive start with a flawless five-under-par 67 at Ruimsig Country Club.

The former provincial cricketer holds a one-stroke lead, but will certainly face pressure in the second round from a strong group of challengers at four under, led by South Africa’s number two ranked golf amateur, Zander Lombard.

A multiple winner on the country’s Premier Development Tour, Lombard made it through the high-pressure First Stage of European Tour Qualifying School at Ribagolfe in Portugal at the end of September.

The Tuks Sport Golf Academy member will want keep his game in top shape for the second stage qualifier at Panoramica Golf and Sport Result in Castellon, Spain in a week. He racked up seven birdies to offset soft bogeys at the first, 11th and 17th.

Okkie Strydom, another multiple winner on the IGT Tour, Eddie Taylor and amateurs Gareth Ackers and Andi Dill, who claimed last week’s Race to Q-School at Krugersdorp Golf Club, are also in joint second.

Behind the imposing quintet, Portugal’s Antonio Rosado, lurks at three under.

The Vilamoura pro is a five-time IGT Tour winner this season and his last victory came just two weeks ago in the Race to Q-School series opener at Koro Creek Country Club.

Rosado also surrendered no shots on his way to a tie for seventh with Andrew McLardy, Bryandrew Roelofsz, Gideon Pienaar, Germany’s Arno Bartholoma and amateur Jason Diab.

A total of 29 players bettered par in the sunny conditions, including Race to Asian Q-School winners Bryn Flanagan and Werner van Niekerk at two under 70 alongside twice Race to USA winner Russell Franz.

Vorster switched from cricket to golf in 2012 and has been plying his trade on the IGT Tour since.

A lesser man might lie awake overnight, but the 33-year-old from Nooitgedacht is taking it all in his stride.

“I’m not going to worry too much; I did that the last time I led a tournament and shot an abysmal score the next day,” Vorster said.

“I did a lot of stupid things, but learned a lot from the experience. This time, I’ll stay patient, remind myself to have fun and focus on my own game, which is the only thing I can control out there.”