Kyle de Beer produced another fabulous bogey-free round on the second day of the Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge at White River Country Club on Thursday, and said he was only going to focus on taking on the golf course shot-for-shot as he goes into Friday’s final round with a two-shot lead.
Playing in only his third Sunshine Tour event but his first as a professional, De Beer fired a six-under-par 65 in Thursday’s second round to climb to 14-under-par for the tournament, stretching his lead after his terrific 63 on the first day.
The most impressive feature of his round was that he birdied three of the par-threes, showing that his iron play was once again impressive.
“I definitely followed up yesterday’s solid round which was really nice. I was a bit more scratchy off the tee today, so I had to work harder with my approach play, but my irons got me out of trouble and I hit some really good shots,” De Beer said.
“It feels really good to be bogey-free through 36 holes. I’m very chuffed with that and hopefully I can keep the same going in the final round. I nearly messed it up though on the 18th, but I saved my par with a very nice putt.
🎥 Massive par save for tournament invitee this week, Kyle de Beer (-14) to maintain a two shot lead headed into the final round 📊#GaryViviennePlayerChallenge #GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/HQzzVspORE
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) August 31, 2023
“I’ve been in these positions before as an amateur, but I know there will be more pressure and nerves on Friday. I know when I’ve focused on the win and playing against others then I’ve usually come unstuck. I’m going to only focus on playing shot-for-shot and taking on the golf course.
“I know what I need to focus on. I’m going to stick to my guns and back myself. It’s going to be a long day, but I’m ready for it,” the former SA Amateur champion said.
The 25-year-old De Beer’s dreams of a first professional title will face a serious challenge, however, from Dylan Naidoo, another emerging talent who has already won on tour having triumphed in the SunBet Challenge Sibaya event last October.
Naidoo backed up his 66 in the first round with a 64 on Thursday, taking him to 12-under-par overall.
Naidoo’s remarkable round included eagles on the par-five seventh and 16th holes, and he also went bogey-free.
🗣️ Thoughts on meeting @garyplayer.
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) August 31, 2023
🌳 How he likes the golf course.
🏌️♂️ Thoughts on his round today. @DylanNaidoo reflects on round 2 at White River Country Club. #GaryViviennePlayerChallenge #GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/8recww0u4Z
In-form 23-year-old Gerhard Pepler posted a 66 on Thursday to move to 10-under-par, and his card was also without blemish.
Hennie Otto (69) and Luke Brown (65) share fourth place on nine-under.
How things stand with one round to go at White River Country Club 📊👀#GaryViviennePlayerChallenge #GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/0CJaQgl9fX
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) August 31, 2023
SECOND-ROUND SCORES
128 - Kyle De Beer 63 65
130 - Dylan Naidoo 66 64
132 - Gerhard Pepler 66 66
133 - Hennie Otto 64 69, Luke Brown 68 65
134 - Christiaan Basson 68 66, Hennie O'Kennedy 69 65
135 - Jack Hawksby 67 68, Rhys West 66 69, Trevor Fisher Jnr 72 63, Louis Albertse 67 68, Merrick Bremner 68 67, Doug McGuigan 68 67, Keenan Davidse 64 71
136 - Willie Olivier 70 66, James Hart du Preez 70 66, Jovan Rebula 68 68, Martin Rohwer 67 69, Richard Joubert 69 67, Ruan Korb 67 69, Malcolm Mitchell 72 64
137 - Jacques Blaauw 68 69, Karabo Mokoena 70 67, Nyasha Muyambo 69 68, Matthew Spacey 70 67, Jean Hugo 64 73, Luca Filippi 70 67, Jonathan Broomhead 69 68, Ruan Conradie 68 69
138 - Caylum Boon 65 73, Tristin Galant 66 72, Robin Williams 67 71, Paul Boshoff 74 64, Richie O'Donovan 67 71, DK Kim 68 70, Keagan Thomas 69 69, Rourke van der Spuy 68 70
139 - James Mack 71 68, Jason Roets 69 70, Martin Vorster 68 71, Nicholaus Frade 72 67, Mutahi Kibugu 72 67, Pierre Pellegrin 72 67, Anthony Michael 67 72, Rupert Kaminski 69 70, Danie Van Niekerk 71 68, Conner Mackenzie 69 70
140 - Tyron Davidowitz 71 69, Nikhil Rama 73 67, Wynand Dingle 68 72, Jacques P de Villiers 67 73, Reinhardt Blaauw 71 69, LB Boshoff 73 67, Evance Vukeya 73 67, Jastice Mashego 70 70, Sentanio Minnie 70 70, Luke Jerling 72 68
Missed the cut:
141 - David Wicks 70 71, Alex Haindl 73 68, Quintin Wilsnach 74 67, Robson Chinhoi 70 71, Stuart Krog 71 70, Sean Bradley 73 68, Albert Venter 70 71, Marcel Steyn Scholtz 72 69, Visitor Mapwanya 73 68, Hayden Griffiths 68 73, Estiaan Conradie 73 68, Toto Thimba Jnr 71 70, Michael Kok 70 71, Erhard Lambrechts 68 73
142 - Franklin Manchest 71 71, Ricky Hendler 74 68, Heinrich Bruiners 74 68, Kyle McClatchie 73 69, Jonathan Waschefort 73 69, Johan Theron 69 73, Ryan Van Velzen 74 68, Steve Surry 74 68
143 - Fredrik From 73 70, Luke Trocado 70 73, Jason Smith 72 71, Chris Cannon 73 70, Drikus Joubert 70 73, Dalton Viviers 74 69
144 - Matias Calderon 68 76, Allister de Kock 70 74, Ruan Groenewald 72 72, Jaco Van Zyl 72 72, Keegan Mclachlan 66 78, Clancy Waugh 72 72
145 - Alphius Kelapile 71 74, CJ du Plessis 74 71, Christiaan Burke 77 68, Gregory Mckay 74 71, Combrinck Smit 72 73, Lyle Rowe 71 74, Madalitso Muthiya 75 70, Jared Harvey 80 65, Hunter Epson 73 72
146 - Ethan Smith 72 74, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 75 71, Kyle Barker 77 69, Siyanda Mwandla 79 67, James Pennington 76 70, Brandon-Jude Rennie 74 72, Adam Breen 69 77, Vaughn van Deventer 70 76
147 - Thabang Simon 78 69, Adriel Poonan 71 76, Jabulane Mabilane 71 76, Sydney Joseph Wemba 76 71, Reece Mc Kain 76 71, Ryan Tipping 73 74, Wade Jacobs 75 72, Slade Pickering 69 78
148 - Aneurin Gounden 75 73, Ronald Rugumayo 75 73, Gerhard Trytsman 76 72
149 - Lyle Pedro 75 74, Warwick Purchase 76 73, Leon Visser 69 80
150 - Irvin Mazibuko 79 71
151 - Francois van Staden 78 73
152 - Makhetha Mazibuko 73 79
154 - Slenda Sithebe 77 77, Travis Ladner 75 79
155 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 77 78
158 - Fezekile Kana 78 80
WDN - Callum Mowat 75 WDN