THE COURSE
Randpark Golf Club (Firethorn & Bushwillow) – The event this week will be played across two 18-holes courses at the Randpark Golf Club (which also has a 9-hole course on site). Both courses, Firethorn and Bushwillow, will play relatively short due to the Johannesburg altitude. Firethorn is the tougher of the two tracks and will host rounds 3 and 4 on the weekend. The finishing three holes have been described as “death or glory,” so Sunday afternoon promises to produce some fireworks. Both courses are defined by target shots and tight, tree-lined fairways. On paper, the course looks long, but will actually play shorter due to the altitude. UPDATE: Heavy rains on Tuesday morning will make the course play soft and a bit longer than it would have dry.
When making picks this week, we’ll be favoring Driving Accuracy, GIR, putting, South African players, and recent form.
The 2000 South African Open was the last event played here, and a few names that were on that entry list are here this week. Those names are: Darren Fichardt, Hennie Otto, Adilson Da Silva, Keith Horne, Thomas Aiken, and Wallie Coetsee.
PAST WINNERS
2017 – 15 Darren Fichardt (Runner Up: – 14 Stuart Manley, Paul Waring)
2016 – 18 Haydn Porteous (Runner Up: -16 Zander Lombard)
2015 – 17 Andy Sullivan (Runners Up: – 15 Wallie Coetsee, David Howell, Kevin Phelan, Jaco van Zyl, Anthony Wall)
2014 – 19 George Coetzee (Runners Up: -16 Tyrrell Hatton, Jin Jeong, Justin Walters)
ODDS (Bovada 12/4/2017)
Louis Oosthuizen +500
Dylan Fritelli +800
George Coetzee +1400
Paul Peterson +2000
Dean Burmester +2500
Darren Fichardt +2500
Haydn Porteous +2500
Shaun Norris +2500
Ashun Wu +3300
Matt Wallace +3500
Thomas Aiken +4000
Sam Horsfield +5000
WHO’S HOT
Dylan Fritelli
Dean Burmester
Paul Peterson
Romain Langasque
Louis De Jager
Oliver Bekker
George Coetzee
Justin Walters
HORSES FOR THE COURSE
Insufficient info.
LONGER SHOTS
Romain Langasque +5000
Anders Hansen +6600
James Morrison +6600
Joel Stalter +6600
Justin Walters +6600
Aaron Rai +7000
Gavin Green +7000
Louis De Jager +7000
Jazz Janewattananond +8000
Jbe Kruger +8000
Oliver Bekker +8000
Scott Vincent +8000
Keith Horne +10000
Zander Lombard +10000
Masahiro Kawamura +12500
Adilson Da Silva +15000
Hennie Otto +15000
Phacara Khongwatmai +15000
Nathan Kimsey +20000
Tapio Pulkkanen +20000
FAITHFULS
Louis Oosthuizen
George Coetzee
Dean Burmester
Thomas Aiken
James Morrison
THE ‘FORE’SOME
Dylan Fritelli. Fritelli is far too fire at the moment not to take. The guy is throwing nothing but darts and his confidence is through the roof. If 8:1 isn’t good enough for you to bet (it doesn’t sound attractive to us), maybe the best bet further down is the American, Paul Peterson. At 20:1, we love that value for a young stick who played lights out two weeks ago in Hong Kong. Also, the returning champ from last year’s event, albeit on a different course, Darren Fichardt, has experience on this track dating back to 2000 and is going off at 25:1. He also played really well after showing up at the last second at the Nedbank only a few weeks ago. So his game is strong. Might be a great each way wager.
Romain Langasque & Justin Walters. We originally had Aiken in this first slot, but have changed him out for the Frenchman. Langasque (50:1) was too hot last week not to take at this value. His length will help on this course that is now sopping wet after Tuesday’s downpour. Add in 80% GIR and 67.5 scoring average from last week…yeah, we’ll take him. Justin Walters looked absolutely great last week in Mauritius, too. And, he finished T3 in this event two years ago on the Royal Johannesburg course. At 66:1, we really like the experienced South African. (Gavin Green at 70:1 may also be worth a small wager).
Oliver Bekker. At 80:1 there’s a lot to like about Bekker this week. Finished T9 last week at the Mauritius. The South African is in good form and can bomb and putt. (Kruger and Khongwatmai are also worth a long look at this value).
