A rainy first day at the 3e Actuaries Open made for some up and down scoring as Mohammed Mandhu took the early lead after a highly impressive bogey-free round of 6-under-66 in tough conditions at the Presidential Golf Course in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea to lead by two strokes from Sweden’s Peter Gustafsson and Muthiya Madalitso who each shot 4-under 68.
With a two-tee start in operation, Mandhu teed off on the front nine and got off to a solid start with birdies on the third and ninth completing a front nine of 34. But it was down the back nine that the Zimbabwean really caught fire, picking up a further four shots including monster birdie putt on 12 and a wonderful chip in on 15 after he missed the green with his approach.
“I played unbelievable golf for a bogey free round,” said Mandhu, who plays on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour. “I was here last year and didn’t know where I was coming but I was shocked. It’s an unbelievable place – the hotel and the golf course are stunning. The course layout is fantastic. Obviously the greens are a little slow and a little bumpy because not many people play here but overall it’s a great course.”
Although winning is nothing new to Mandhu, he admits that victory in Mongomo which would mean a prize cheque for $24,000 would be is greatest achievement to date.
“I’ve won a couple of tournaments back home in Zimbabwe but this would be the biggest tournament I’ve won in my professional career,” he said. “I’ve just got to take it day by day, hole by hole, shot by shot and see what happens.
“The experience has been amazing so far – great company, great hospitality and great services – we’ve been treated like kings so I’m enjoying the moment.”
WATCH: Click here to watch Day 1 Highlights from Mongomo
Of the five players who qualified for the 3e Actuaries Open through our Worldwide Golf qualifier at Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai in September, Englishman Craig Hinton fared best with an opening round of 3-under 69 to lie in fourth place.
In the ladies event, where 14 players are competing for a $50,000 prize fund, Spain’s Luna Sobron and Chile’s Paz Echeverria shared the first round lead with matching scores of 3-under 69.
Meanwhile, the tournament received a very special guest in the form of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and the First Lady who came to declare the 2016 3e Actuaries Open officially open.
“I’d like to welcome all of the golfers who came to Equatorial Guinea and thank Olawale Oopayinka who is the promoter of the tournament,” said the President. “I had the idea of building this golf course here in Mongomo and also one in Malabo and one in Oyala to make the population know this wonderful game of golf.
“With regard to the international players, I’m very happy because they are playing in the place where I was born. I wish them a warm welcome and invite them to come back again and enjoy the hospitality of this country.”
The 3e Actuaries Open is taking place in Mongomo from December 8-11.
