Franklin Manchest carded a five-under-par 67 on Monday in the opening round of the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour’s Chase to the Sunshine Tour #35 at Akasia Golf Club to take two-stroke lead.
Manchest made an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys to pull clear of Leon Vorster, who had an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys on his card for his three-under-par 69. Ryan Tipping and Neezy Thubisi shared third on two-under 70.
Manchest picked up his first birdie on the par-three fourth, but he gave that shot back with a bogey five on the sixth. He turned in one-under 34 after he made birdie on the eighth, and two consecutive birdies immediately after the turn got momentum for him. The eagle came on the par-five 14th, and he followed that with a birdie on the 15th. Unfortunately, he dropped a shot on the 17th.
Only four other players scored par or better, with Sentiano Minnie and Jason Froneman on one-under in a share of fifth, and Kyle McClatchie and Herman Loubser on level-par in a share of seventh.
