This week Jayden Schaper makes his Major championship debut in The PGA Championship. Only a few years ago in 2021, Schaper finished tied fifth in the Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am.
Related: South African golfers dominate worldwide on weekend of wins
It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for every Sunshine Tour professional competing at Irene Country Club this week to be thinking of a similar career progression.
View this post on Instagram
Gerhard Pepler is the man at the forefront of chasing that long-term goal after opening with a nine-under-par 63 to lead the field by three strokes after Thursday’s first round.
It was a positive start by a player who has finished sixth and second in this event in the past, and is coming off a seventh-place finish in last week’s FBC Zim Open.
“I really felt good out there today. The gameplan was to play stress-free golf and I think I managed to do that quite well,” said Pepler. His nearest challengers on six under are Tyrone Ryan, Christiaan Burke and Welshman Jack Davidson.
View this post on Instagram
Pepler’s form at the moment has less to do with any swing changes and more to do with his lifestyle changes, having moved his family to the coast.
“The past few weeks the mindset is a lot better since we moved to Ballito. I am more relaxed so everything is falling into place, a little bit more where I want it to be. I’m very relaxed and enjoying golf again,” Pepler said.
He took full advantage of an early tee-time on a glorious highveld winter’s day, birdieing the first hole and making the turn with a further two birdies and an eagle.
View this post on Instagram
“I got off to a good start after making birdie on the first hole. I hit a good tee-shot on the seventh hole to set-up a relatively easy birdie putt and then made a good par-save on the eighth hole which kept the momentum going. On the ninth hole I hit a good drive and seven iron to about 15 feet from the flag. I knew exactly what the putt would be doing and I made the putt for eagle.”
The back nine started in the same manner for Pepler with a birdie on the 10th hole. He added another birdie on the 15th and then closed with birdies on the 17th and 18th.
“The momentum just kept going so I am very happy to have finished the way that I did with the two birdies. I am happy to be up there and really excited for the rest of the week and what is still in store for me.”
