He hits the ball a mile, just like Seve, he can expertly shape the ball both ways, not unlike the great Seve, he’s got charisma, like Seve, and he’s a swashbuckler of note out in the course, again a bit like Seve.
Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, who shared the first-round lead with South Africa's Christiaan Burke on a brilliant nine-under-par 63 on Thursday in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Royal Johannesburg, is therefore something akin to a second generation Seve Ballesteros.
“My father comes from the same northern Spain village, Pedrena, as Seve did, so our family knew their family. Seve was my hero when I was a little guy and I knew him. I was nine when he passed away and I was devastated. Now I try and play a bit like him.”
Serengeti's power hitter Burke was off to a sensational start, making six straight birdies on holes one to six before ending off his round with an eagle-three at the par-5 18th.
Christiaan Burke makes eagle 🦅 on the final hole to end as joint leader. #DunhillChamps #ADC2025 pic.twitter.com/wOFBo3asOd
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) December 11, 2025
The 25-year-old Chacarra hit every green in regulation in his 63, carding eight birdies, an eagle and just the one dropped shot.
“That was a three-putt that came out of nowhere, but otherwise a great day. This is my first visit to South Africa. I played well at Sun City last week but today was much better.
"The course is very wet after all the rain they've had but a softer course can make golf a bit easier as you can attack the pins and I did that today.”
The lowest round ever at Royal Johannesburg before this morning was 65 (-7) which was bettered by Eugenio Chacarra who shot an opening round 63 (-9).
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 11, 2025
Daniel van Tonder has just shot a front nine 31 (-6) 🤯#DunhillChamps pic.twitter.com/OwDePv1n92
"I trust the plan that I have with my caddie and I think we did a tremendous job!"
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 11, 2025
Hear from Eugenio Chacarra after shooting his lowest round on the DP World Tour and the lowest round to be shot at Royal Johannesburg 🙌#DunhillChamps pic.twitter.com/0V14wPy5GJ
Chacarra and Burke lead by one from South Africa's Brandon Stone and Thriston Lawrence, who both posted 64.
"It's the best I've putted in, maybe, 18 long months," said 32-year-old Stone.
"I've gone to a broomstick putter and today, seriously, I holed everything. The best putting round I've had as a professional golfer. No doubt about this. It was just one of those days. And it's great to be back at Royal Johannesburg. I first played here as a kid about two decades ago and I was able to channel that inner child from back then out there today."
Post round minute with co-leader Brandon Stone. 🎥 🎙️ #ADC2025 #DunhillChamps pic.twitter.com/yq9qRKFWeY
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) December 11, 2025
Branden Grace, Danie van Tonder and Zimbabwe's Benjamin Follett-Smith all signed for 65s, with Oliver Bekker and England’s John Parry home in 66 on the iconic East Course, where magnificent English Oak, Weeping Willows and Sweet Chestnut trees line the manicured fairways.
South Africa’s 21-year-old sensation Aldrich Potgieter and compatriots Dean Burmester, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Louis Oosthuizen, Jaden Schaper and defending champion Shaun Norris are bracketed with a big group on 67, Bezuidenhout making birdies at the last five holes he played (No 5 to No 9 as he started his day at the 10th) to get to that number.
"I started off a bit slowly because it was chilly early in the morning, but my eagle three at 18 (his ninth hole of the day) got me going," Grace said of his 65.
"I love this golf course and have done well here before," he added, referring to his 2007 Silver Vase amateur win at Royal and his 2012 Joburg Open victory.
Chacarra attended Oklahoma State University where he was a first team All-American, reaching a high of No 2 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, before turning professional and joining LIV Golf in June 2022.
In October 2022, Chacarra gained his first professional victory, winning LIV Bangkok. In 2023 he won the St Andrews Bay Championship played at Fairmont St Andrews on the Asian Tour as part of the International Series. He defeated Matt Jones in a 10-hole sudden-death playoff.
Chacarra left LIV Golf after three seasons, and earned full DP World Tour status when he won the Hero Indian Open on a sponsor's invite in March this year.