Ruan Korb from Silver Lakes fired a bogey-free opening round of 65 to take a one-shot lead on the third Race to Q-School on the IGT Challenge Tour on Monday.

The Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour graduate made the most of the sunny conditions at Wingate Park Country Club to better the earlier 66 by Ruimsig amateur Keelan van Wyk with seven birdies.

Korb turned three-under after gains at the second, sixth and seventh holes.

The Silver Lakes pro cut his teeth on the IGT Challenge Tour. Having earned a card on the Sunshine Tour with a top 10 finish in the final Road to Sunshine Tour Order of Merit on the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour last December, he is keeping tournament fit on the country’s premier golf development circuit until the start of the 2019/2020 season.

“Hopefully I can go one better this week here at Wingate Park than the runner-up finish on the IGT Challenge Tour last May. My biggest goal until I start the Sunshine Tour is put myself in contention every week and produce sub-par rounds under pressure. Everyone knows it is one long qualifying battle in the first season for the rookies, so it will be to my advantage if I can start the season fit and ready to fight,” said Korb after his brilliant round.

Twenty-year-old Van Wyk turned four-under and birdies at seven and eight for a 66.

The Ruimsig golfer is a final year B.Com Business Administration student at Regenesys Business School and has to put in lots of hours behind the books, but with the African Swing teeing off in two-weeks, he is also trying to get his game in the best shape possible.

Andrew Carlsson and Ivan Mare carded rounds of 67 to stay in touch, with Michael-James Steyn, Richard Joubert and amateur trio Christian Basson, Darin de Smidt and Malcolm Mitchell a further stroke back.

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