Erik van Rooyen will lead the 10-strong South African pursuit when the European Tour returns for this week’s Trophee Hassan II in Morocco, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Van Rooyen arrives in fine form, with recent results proving his capabilities at this level. A T2 in the Qatar Masters was backed up with T15 at the Maybank Championship and then a T6 at the Indian Open.
Still searching for his maiden win, Van Rooyen is hoping to break the South African drought in the event, played at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat. He is also looking to improve on last year’s showing which saw him finish seventh after dropping five places on Sunday after a 73.
Richard Sterne is second in the field according to his lofty Race to Dubai spot, and second to Van Rooyen in local terms when it comes to the Official World Golf Rankings. The latter is 14th in the field with Sterne 15th and Dean Burmester back in 28th place in this field.
Burmester joins Van Rooyen on the tee in the first round along with Andrea Pavan (France) at 9:45am. Before that group, Haydn Porteous tees off in the day’s first slot at 8:35am with Lasse Jensenn and Nick Cullen.
Jacques Kruyswijk will have to wait until 2:55pm to get his championship under way with Josh Geary and Nino Bertasio for company. Last off among the South Africans is Justin Walters at 3:15pm as he joins Clement Sordet and Matthew Nixon for the first two rounds.
No Saffa has prevailed since the rebranding in 2010 – when Louis Oosthuizen finished second to Rhys Davies (Wales). The following year Jaco van Zyl lost in a playoff to Simon Horsey (England).
France’s Alex Levy is the defending champion, and he starts on Thursday joined by Magical Kenya Open winner Guido Migliozzi and Hero Indian Open champion Stephen Gallacher.
The venue, the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, will play host to both the Ladies European Tour and the European Tour at the same time, with the male competitors teeing it up on the Red Course – while the female professionals will go head to head on the neighbouring Blue Course.
South African round one tee times (add +1 for SA time):
Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images
