Golf
Palmer leads Q School - Heckroodt on fire─── 08:17 Wed, 09 Dec 2015
Michael Palmer is determined to take whatever he learned from his blowout in the final round of another qualifying school and use it to his advantage at this year’s Sunshine Tour Qualifying School which got underway on Tuesday.
Palmer had a three-way share of the lead after firing a seven-under-par 65 at Schoeman Park Golf Club – the 272 hopefuls will play two rounds at each Schoeman Park and Bloemfontein Golf Club ahead of a cut to the top 60 players and ties.
“I have my card for the Sunshine Tour from my fourth place finish on the Big Easy Tour,” said Palmer, “so I’m playing the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School to get a better category to get into some of the co-sanctioned events this summer.”
He started the European Tour Qualifying School with a 63, but he was unable to sustain the pace over that six-round marathon as he slipped outside the top 30 who got their cards with a final round of 78.
“Things didn’t go too well there,” he said, “but I got status on the Challenge Tour and I intend playing as many of those tournaments as I can. Before the first event on that tour, which is in Kenya in April, I intend playing as many Sunshine Tour events as I can in an attempt to seal my status here too.”
He got off to the perfect start at Schoeman Park: He cruised round the front nine in four-under-par 32, with birdies on three, five, six and nine, and then he picked up three more on 11, 15 and 17 to share the top of the leaderboard with Terence Boardman and Portugal’s Antonio Rosado.
Boardman’s round was similarly bogey-free at Bloemfontein Golf Club, while, back at Schoeman Park, Rosado interspersed his six birdies with two eagles and three bogeys.
Behind that trio was another trio on five-under-par 67: Botswana’s Stuart Smith overcame a bogey on Bloemfontein’s 17th with an eagle on 18, local boy Burger Heckroodt took advantage of being on his home Schoeman Park, and England’s Johnny Evans was bogey-free on Bloemfontein.
For Palmer, the week is all about taking advantage of his experience. “I went to Oklahoma City University for four years,” he said.
“And then I worked for the next couple of years and decided I needed to start playing golf again, and I came home. I’m not sure about the maturity of the younger guys on the tour, but I know that two years of working have given me a huge push to succeed.”
At this early stage, with three rounds to go ahead of the cut, there is plenty of work to be done by all the hopefuls: Eight players got it to four-under after the first round, and 11 more to three-under.
But getting inside the top 60 is the first aim.
Scores:
65 - Michael Palmer (RSA), Terence Boardman (RSA), Antonio Rosado (POR)
67 - Stuart Smith (BOT), Burger Heckroodt (RSA), Johnny Evans (ENG)
68 - Russel Franz (RSA), Keegan Steyn (AMA) (RSA), Werner van Wyk (AMA) (RSA), Greg Bentley (ZIM), Jack Harrison (ENG), Jason Froneman (RSA), Andre de Decker (RSA), Tyron McComb (RSA)
69 - Teaghan Gauche (AMA) (RSA), Jonathan Agren (SWE), Christofer Blomstrand (SWE), Danie Pretorius (RSA), Paul Boshoff (AMA) (RSA), Pieter Moolman (RSA), Michael Downes (ENG), Bryandrew Roelofsz (RSA), Thriston Lawrence (RSA), Darin de Smidt (AMA) (RSA), Altin van der Merwe (AMA) (RSA)
70 - Reinhardt Blaauw (AMA) (RSA), Simon Kruger (RSA), Calvin Pearson (RSA), Rae Mackie (RSA), Angus Ellis-Cole (AMA) (RSA), Omar Sandys (RSA), Zachary Portemont (USA), Roberto Lupini (RSA), Armandt Scholtz (RSA), Chris Erasmus (RSA), Eddie Taylor (RSA), Coert Groenewald (RSA), Philip Kruse (AMA) (RSA), Kevin Rundle (RSA), James Beale (NZL), Kevin Berger (GER), Sean Olfsen (AMA) (RSA), John McClean (NIR), Karl Ochse (AMA) (RSA), Bryce McCabe (RSA), Brett Liddle (RSA), Thabang Simon (RSA)
71 - Stephan de Beer (RSA), Maritz Wessels (RSA), TJ Bekker (RSA), CJ Levey (AMA) (RSA), Peter Wilson (ENG), Luke Jerling (AMA) (RSA), Alistair Waddell (ENG), MJ Daffue (RSA), Juan Swart (RSA), Dwayne Basson (RSA), Gideon Pienaar (RSA), Attie van Wyk (AMA) (RSA), Philip Geerts (ITA) (AMA), Louis Calitz (RSA), Joubert van Eeden (RSA), Mohit Mediratta (KEN) (AMA), Callie Swart (RSA), Sheldon Steyn (ZIM), Quintin Wilsnach (AMA) (RSA), Herman Minnie (RSA), Jeff Hopkins (IRL) (AMA), Tim Rice (IRL), Nemanja Savic (SRB), Magnus Svahlin (SWE), Garth Wolter (RSA), Ruan Pretorius (AMA) (RSA), Brandon Cloete (AMA) (RSA), Andries Van Zyl (AMA) (RSA)
72 - Louis Taylor (AMA) (RSA), Daniel Mantel (AMA) (RSA), Divan Marais (AMA) (RSA), Martin Rominger (SUI), Neezy Thubisi (RSA), Karl Lehmacher (AMA) (RSA), Reghard Neethling (AMA) (RSA), Terence Salo (RSA), Bryn Flanagan (RSA), Kevin Smith (AMA) (RSA), Leon Vorster (AMA) (RSA), Andrew Carlsson (AMA) (RSA), Jacquin Hess (RSA), Tiaan Diederiks (RSA), Jason Viljoen (AMA) (RSA), Hilton Hughes (AMA) (RSA), Peetie van der Merwe (AMA) (RSA), Michael Jooste (AMA) (RSA), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA), Desne Van Den Bergh (RSA), Shaun Carter (AMA) (IRL), David Terrence Ashley (ENG), Norman Beggs (RSA), Duane Keun (RSA), Pieter Kruger (RSA)
73 - Dayne Moore (ZAM), Kyle Lucas (RSA), Luke Trocado (AMA) (RSA), Michael Saunders (ENG), Ruan Korb (AMA) (RSA), Sipho Bujela (RSA), Cameron Esau (RSA), Jonathan Waschefort (RSA), Juan Langeveld (RSA), Roux Jeffery (NAM), Paul de Beer (RSA), Neal Herman (AMA) (RSA), Irvin Mazibuko (RSA), Wicus Bezuidenhout (RSA), Gavin Miles (RSA), Henry Featherstone (ENG), Ruan Huysamen (NAM), Siegmund Human (AMA) (RSA), Blaine Dormehl (AMA) (RSA), Michael Pfeifer (AMA) (GER), David Lamprecht (RSA), Justin Turner (RSA), Quintin Crause (AMA) (RSA), Therion Nel (AMA) (RSA), Altaaf Bux (RSA), Teagan Moore (AMA) (RSA), Basil Wright (RSA), Mikhail Tewary (RSA), Francois van Coppenhagen (RSA), Christopher de Beer (AMA) (RSA), Joe Nawanga (NAM), Johan van der Wath (RSA), Warrick Moonieyan (RSA), Fraser Moore (ENG), Riekus Nortje (RSA), Jacques P de Villiers (RSA)
74 - Edwin Kutara (NAM), Dongkwan Kim (KOR), Mateusz Jedrzejczyk (POL), Jadrick Fourie (AMA) (RSA), Matthew Spacey (RSA),N.J. Arnoldi (RSA), Richard Maree (AMA) (RSA), Jaco Mouton (RSA), Matthew Vogel (RSA), Ryan Clarke (RSA), Pierre de Villiers (AMA) (RSA), Bruce McDonald (ENG), Steven van Heerden (RSA)
75 - Bartjie de Klerk (AMA) (RSA), Jared Burnard (RSA), Conway Kunneke (RSA), Wayne du Toit (RSA), Hendrikus Stoop (AMA) (RSA), Dwain Dodd (AMA) (RSA), Phillip Swanepoel (AMA) (RSA), Andrew Ilsley (AMA) (RSA), Wayne Stroebel (RSA), Lourens Volschenk (AMA) (RSA), Byron Garvie (RSA), John Bele (RSA), Zabastian de Jager (AMA) (RSA), Glen de Waal (NAM), Pietie Loubser (AMA) (RSA), Tyron Roelofsz (RSA), Tumelo Wesi (AMA) (RSA), Justin Levy (NED), Amerigo Renieri (AMA) (RSA), Werner Kapp (RSA), Fouche Botha (AMA) (RSA), Dylan O'Leary (RSA), Johann Dannhauser (RSA), Deon Bredenkamp (RSA), Mark Fensham (RSA), James Du Plessis (RSA), Terence Coutinho (AMA) (RSA), Tjaart van Wyk (AMA) (RSA), Marc van Deventer (AMA) (RSA)
76 - Michael Schutz (AMA) (RSA), Paul Colditz (AMA) (RSA), Stephan Erasmus (AMA) (RSA), Cameron Nesmith (AMA) (RSA), Alejandro Fernandez (ESP)(AMA), Jason Diab (RSA), Niel du Preez (AMA) (RSA), Keagan Thomas (AMA) (RSA), Michael Van Hoeck (AMA) (BEL), Graeme Fransman (NAM), Derryn Mitri (AMA) (RSA), Darryn van Zyl (AMA) (RSA), Dylan Docherty (RSA), Michael Armstrong (AMA) (RSA), Jason Ackerman (AMA) (RSA), Gareth Atkinson (AMA) (RSA), Werner Van Der Walt (RSA), Albert Visser (AMA) (RSA), Francois van Vuuren (RSA), LJ Lowies (AMA) (RSA)
77 - Jason Rossiter (AMA) (RSA), Jack Kutumane (RSA), Mark Lennox (RSA), Christian Olivier (AMA) (RSA), JP Strydom (AMA) (RSA), Otto van Greunen (RSA), Dylan De Beer (RSA), Jens Hillermann (AMA) (RSA), Matthew Kent (RSA), Louis Botha (RSA), Shaun van Tonder (RSA), Gareth Akers (RSA), Sean Coomer (AMA) (RSA), Juran Dreyer (AMA) (RSA), Michael Kok (AMA) (RSA), Jandre Fullard (AMA) (RSA), Albie Hanekom (RSA), Tyler Hogarty (RSA)
78 - Melvin Geldenhuis (AMA) (RSA), Marco de Beer (AMA) (RSA), Dillon Germshuys (AMA) (RSA), Wiele Rademeyer (AMA) (RSA), Igor Milicic (SER), James McCormick (ENG), Jean-Claude van Dommelen (RSA), Ruan Conradie (AMA) (RSA), Andi Dill (AMA) (RSA), Chris Pretorius (RSA), Ruan Potgieter (AMA) (RSA), Nick Botha (AMA) (RSA)
79 - Gerhard Faber (AMA) (RSA), Nicklas van Wyk (AMA) (RSA), Tom Watson (AMA) (RSA), Grzegorz Zielinski (POL), Christof Appel (RSA), Stef Visage (RSA), Bryce Myburgh (RSA), Gregg Blainey (ENG), Mack Tucker (USA), Ben Mannix (ENG), Shingi Shumba (ZIM), Nico Smith (AMA) (RSA)
80 -Pieter Coetzee (AMA) (RSA), Naithen Moore (AMA) (RSA), Nabeel Desai (AMA) (BOT), Ean Steenkamp (AMA) (RSA), Christopher Wicks (AMA) (RSA), Albert Venter (AMA) (RSA), Samuel Botham (ENG), Shane Heckler (AMA) (RSA), Matthew Adams (AMA) (RSA), Houston Harwood (AMA) (RSA), Theodor Oosthuizen (AMA) (RSA), Nico du Buisson (AMA) (RSA), Max Munther (SWE), Shalan Govender (RSA)
81 - Lourens Du Plessis (RSA), Morne Wolmarans (RSA), Leon Visser (AMA) (RSA), Hando Brophy (AMA) (RSA),Allister de Kock (RSA)
82 - Frank Staal (RSA), Calvin Caldeira (RSA), Andre Pistorius (RSA), Yusuf Raidhan (ENG) (AMA)
83 - Christoff Byleveldt (AMA) (RSA), Ryan Ciapparelli (RSA), Khaya Jika (RSA)
84 - Matthew Collis (ENG)
85 - Rudolph Van De Venter (AMA) (RSA)
86 - Seneshaw Albert (ETH), Jaco Kok (AMA) (RSA)
88 - Luke Kelly (RSA)
89 - Richard Tsai (AMA) (RSA)
Photo: Michael Palmer - Petri Oeschger / Sunshine Tour
“I have my card for the Sunshine Tour from my fourth place finish on the Big Easy Tour,” said Palmer, “so I’m playing the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School to get a better category to get into some of the co-sanctioned events this summer.”
He started the European Tour Qualifying School with a 63, but he was unable to sustain the pace over that six-round marathon as he slipped outside the top 30 who got their cards with a final round of 78.
“Things didn’t go too well there,” he said, “but I got status on the Challenge Tour and I intend playing as many of those tournaments as I can. Before the first event on that tour, which is in Kenya in April, I intend playing as many Sunshine Tour events as I can in an attempt to seal my status here too.”
He got off to the perfect start at Schoeman Park: He cruised round the front nine in four-under-par 32, with birdies on three, five, six and nine, and then he picked up three more on 11, 15 and 17 to share the top of the leaderboard with Terence Boardman and Portugal’s Antonio Rosado.
Boardman’s round was similarly bogey-free at Bloemfontein Golf Club, while, back at Schoeman Park, Rosado interspersed his six birdies with two eagles and three bogeys.
Behind that trio was another trio on five-under-par 67: Botswana’s Stuart Smith overcame a bogey on Bloemfontein’s 17th with an eagle on 18, local boy Burger Heckroodt took advantage of being on his home Schoeman Park, and England’s Johnny Evans was bogey-free on Bloemfontein.
For Palmer, the week is all about taking advantage of his experience. “I went to Oklahoma City University for four years,” he said.
“And then I worked for the next couple of years and decided I needed to start playing golf again, and I came home. I’m not sure about the maturity of the younger guys on the tour, but I know that two years of working have given me a huge push to succeed.”
At this early stage, with three rounds to go ahead of the cut, there is plenty of work to be done by all the hopefuls: Eight players got it to four-under after the first round, and 11 more to three-under.
But getting inside the top 60 is the first aim.
Scores:
65 - Michael Palmer (RSA), Terence Boardman (RSA), Antonio Rosado (POR)
67 - Stuart Smith (BOT), Burger Heckroodt (RSA), Johnny Evans (ENG)
68 - Russel Franz (RSA), Keegan Steyn (AMA) (RSA), Werner van Wyk (AMA) (RSA), Greg Bentley (ZIM), Jack Harrison (ENG), Jason Froneman (RSA), Andre de Decker (RSA), Tyron McComb (RSA)
69 - Teaghan Gauche (AMA) (RSA), Jonathan Agren (SWE), Christofer Blomstrand (SWE), Danie Pretorius (RSA), Paul Boshoff (AMA) (RSA), Pieter Moolman (RSA), Michael Downes (ENG), Bryandrew Roelofsz (RSA), Thriston Lawrence (RSA), Darin de Smidt (AMA) (RSA), Altin van der Merwe (AMA) (RSA)
70 - Reinhardt Blaauw (AMA) (RSA), Simon Kruger (RSA), Calvin Pearson (RSA), Rae Mackie (RSA), Angus Ellis-Cole (AMA) (RSA), Omar Sandys (RSA), Zachary Portemont (USA), Roberto Lupini (RSA), Armandt Scholtz (RSA), Chris Erasmus (RSA), Eddie Taylor (RSA), Coert Groenewald (RSA), Philip Kruse (AMA) (RSA), Kevin Rundle (RSA), James Beale (NZL), Kevin Berger (GER), Sean Olfsen (AMA) (RSA), John McClean (NIR), Karl Ochse (AMA) (RSA), Bryce McCabe (RSA), Brett Liddle (RSA), Thabang Simon (RSA)
71 - Stephan de Beer (RSA), Maritz Wessels (RSA), TJ Bekker (RSA), CJ Levey (AMA) (RSA), Peter Wilson (ENG), Luke Jerling (AMA) (RSA), Alistair Waddell (ENG), MJ Daffue (RSA), Juan Swart (RSA), Dwayne Basson (RSA), Gideon Pienaar (RSA), Attie van Wyk (AMA) (RSA), Philip Geerts (ITA) (AMA), Louis Calitz (RSA), Joubert van Eeden (RSA), Mohit Mediratta (KEN) (AMA), Callie Swart (RSA), Sheldon Steyn (ZIM), Quintin Wilsnach (AMA) (RSA), Herman Minnie (RSA), Jeff Hopkins (IRL) (AMA), Tim Rice (IRL), Nemanja Savic (SRB), Magnus Svahlin (SWE), Garth Wolter (RSA), Ruan Pretorius (AMA) (RSA), Brandon Cloete (AMA) (RSA), Andries Van Zyl (AMA) (RSA)
72 - Louis Taylor (AMA) (RSA), Daniel Mantel (AMA) (RSA), Divan Marais (AMA) (RSA), Martin Rominger (SUI), Neezy Thubisi (RSA), Karl Lehmacher (AMA) (RSA), Reghard Neethling (AMA) (RSA), Terence Salo (RSA), Bryn Flanagan (RSA), Kevin Smith (AMA) (RSA), Leon Vorster (AMA) (RSA), Andrew Carlsson (AMA) (RSA), Jacquin Hess (RSA), Tiaan Diederiks (RSA), Jason Viljoen (AMA) (RSA), Hilton Hughes (AMA) (RSA), Peetie van der Merwe (AMA) (RSA), Michael Jooste (AMA) (RSA), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA), Desne Van Den Bergh (RSA), Shaun Carter (AMA) (IRL), David Terrence Ashley (ENG), Norman Beggs (RSA), Duane Keun (RSA), Pieter Kruger (RSA)
73 - Dayne Moore (ZAM), Kyle Lucas (RSA), Luke Trocado (AMA) (RSA), Michael Saunders (ENG), Ruan Korb (AMA) (RSA), Sipho Bujela (RSA), Cameron Esau (RSA), Jonathan Waschefort (RSA), Juan Langeveld (RSA), Roux Jeffery (NAM), Paul de Beer (RSA), Neal Herman (AMA) (RSA), Irvin Mazibuko (RSA), Wicus Bezuidenhout (RSA), Gavin Miles (RSA), Henry Featherstone (ENG), Ruan Huysamen (NAM), Siegmund Human (AMA) (RSA), Blaine Dormehl (AMA) (RSA), Michael Pfeifer (AMA) (GER), David Lamprecht (RSA), Justin Turner (RSA), Quintin Crause (AMA) (RSA), Therion Nel (AMA) (RSA), Altaaf Bux (RSA), Teagan Moore (AMA) (RSA), Basil Wright (RSA), Mikhail Tewary (RSA), Francois van Coppenhagen (RSA), Christopher de Beer (AMA) (RSA), Joe Nawanga (NAM), Johan van der Wath (RSA), Warrick Moonieyan (RSA), Fraser Moore (ENG), Riekus Nortje (RSA), Jacques P de Villiers (RSA)
74 - Edwin Kutara (NAM), Dongkwan Kim (KOR), Mateusz Jedrzejczyk (POL), Jadrick Fourie (AMA) (RSA), Matthew Spacey (RSA),N.J. Arnoldi (RSA), Richard Maree (AMA) (RSA), Jaco Mouton (RSA), Matthew Vogel (RSA), Ryan Clarke (RSA), Pierre de Villiers (AMA) (RSA), Bruce McDonald (ENG), Steven van Heerden (RSA)
75 - Bartjie de Klerk (AMA) (RSA), Jared Burnard (RSA), Conway Kunneke (RSA), Wayne du Toit (RSA), Hendrikus Stoop (AMA) (RSA), Dwain Dodd (AMA) (RSA), Phillip Swanepoel (AMA) (RSA), Andrew Ilsley (AMA) (RSA), Wayne Stroebel (RSA), Lourens Volschenk (AMA) (RSA), Byron Garvie (RSA), John Bele (RSA), Zabastian de Jager (AMA) (RSA), Glen de Waal (NAM), Pietie Loubser (AMA) (RSA), Tyron Roelofsz (RSA), Tumelo Wesi (AMA) (RSA), Justin Levy (NED), Amerigo Renieri (AMA) (RSA), Werner Kapp (RSA), Fouche Botha (AMA) (RSA), Dylan O'Leary (RSA), Johann Dannhauser (RSA), Deon Bredenkamp (RSA), Mark Fensham (RSA), James Du Plessis (RSA), Terence Coutinho (AMA) (RSA), Tjaart van Wyk (AMA) (RSA), Marc van Deventer (AMA) (RSA)
76 - Michael Schutz (AMA) (RSA), Paul Colditz (AMA) (RSA), Stephan Erasmus (AMA) (RSA), Cameron Nesmith (AMA) (RSA), Alejandro Fernandez (ESP)(AMA), Jason Diab (RSA), Niel du Preez (AMA) (RSA), Keagan Thomas (AMA) (RSA), Michael Van Hoeck (AMA) (BEL), Graeme Fransman (NAM), Derryn Mitri (AMA) (RSA), Darryn van Zyl (AMA) (RSA), Dylan Docherty (RSA), Michael Armstrong (AMA) (RSA), Jason Ackerman (AMA) (RSA), Gareth Atkinson (AMA) (RSA), Werner Van Der Walt (RSA), Albert Visser (AMA) (RSA), Francois van Vuuren (RSA), LJ Lowies (AMA) (RSA)
77 - Jason Rossiter (AMA) (RSA), Jack Kutumane (RSA), Mark Lennox (RSA), Christian Olivier (AMA) (RSA), JP Strydom (AMA) (RSA), Otto van Greunen (RSA), Dylan De Beer (RSA), Jens Hillermann (AMA) (RSA), Matthew Kent (RSA), Louis Botha (RSA), Shaun van Tonder (RSA), Gareth Akers (RSA), Sean Coomer (AMA) (RSA), Juran Dreyer (AMA) (RSA), Michael Kok (AMA) (RSA), Jandre Fullard (AMA) (RSA), Albie Hanekom (RSA), Tyler Hogarty (RSA)
78 - Melvin Geldenhuis (AMA) (RSA), Marco de Beer (AMA) (RSA), Dillon Germshuys (AMA) (RSA), Wiele Rademeyer (AMA) (RSA), Igor Milicic (SER), James McCormick (ENG), Jean-Claude van Dommelen (RSA), Ruan Conradie (AMA) (RSA), Andi Dill (AMA) (RSA), Chris Pretorius (RSA), Ruan Potgieter (AMA) (RSA), Nick Botha (AMA) (RSA)
79 - Gerhard Faber (AMA) (RSA), Nicklas van Wyk (AMA) (RSA), Tom Watson (AMA) (RSA), Grzegorz Zielinski (POL), Christof Appel (RSA), Stef Visage (RSA), Bryce Myburgh (RSA), Gregg Blainey (ENG), Mack Tucker (USA), Ben Mannix (ENG), Shingi Shumba (ZIM), Nico Smith (AMA) (RSA)
80 -Pieter Coetzee (AMA) (RSA), Naithen Moore (AMA) (RSA), Nabeel Desai (AMA) (BOT), Ean Steenkamp (AMA) (RSA), Christopher Wicks (AMA) (RSA), Albert Venter (AMA) (RSA), Samuel Botham (ENG), Shane Heckler (AMA) (RSA), Matthew Adams (AMA) (RSA), Houston Harwood (AMA) (RSA), Theodor Oosthuizen (AMA) (RSA), Nico du Buisson (AMA) (RSA), Max Munther (SWE), Shalan Govender (RSA)
81 - Lourens Du Plessis (RSA), Morne Wolmarans (RSA), Leon Visser (AMA) (RSA), Hando Brophy (AMA) (RSA),Allister de Kock (RSA)
82 - Frank Staal (RSA), Calvin Caldeira (RSA), Andre Pistorius (RSA), Yusuf Raidhan (ENG) (AMA)
83 - Christoff Byleveldt (AMA) (RSA), Ryan Ciapparelli (RSA), Khaya Jika (RSA)
84 - Matthew Collis (ENG)
85 - Rudolph Van De Venter (AMA) (RSA)
86 - Seneshaw Albert (ETH), Jaco Kok (AMA) (RSA)
88 - Luke Kelly (RSA)
89 - Richard Tsai (AMA) (RSA)
Photo: Michael Palmer - Petri Oeschger / Sunshine Tour
