AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open Day 1 - Hot Out the Blocks

The first day of the Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open was as hot as the conditions. Heavy rains leading up to the tournament were but a memory as a perfectly conditioned Anahita course mimicked the weather, sunny with a light coastal breeze.

The day started from both tees at 06:30 am for the first group of players with the second session commencing at 11:30. South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl and France’s Matthieu Pavon were the first to show their intentions. Van Zyl posting a blemish-free round with three birdies on the front nine and two on the back before sinking his 15-foot putt on the 18thfor eagle. Pavon finished two back with a round of five-under-par. Other contenders from the first session included Rourke van der Spuy, Merrick Bremner, Viraj Madappa and Jordan Smith. 

The late starters were not to be outscored with France’s Victor Perez having a strong finish to his first round. Starting on the 10thhe went four under for the back nine before turning and continuing in the same vein. Carding five birdies and one bogey he finished at eight under for the day. He was joined by a rampant Chikkarangappa S who was the second to last tee time at 13:20 shooting a blemish-free front nine which included five birdies. His back nine of three under gave him a total equalling Perez at eight-under-par. Trailing by one from the late starters Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura and Kurt Kitayama from the U.S.A both signed for bogey-free rounds of seven under. 

Other notables included Ernie Els who started with a bogey but rectified the ship and ended on a commendable three-under-par at the course he designed himself. This was equalled by defending champion Dylan Fritelli whose one bogey was overshadowed by four birdies. The leaderboard of the Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open is packed, promising for an exciting day two in Mauritius.