Zimbabwean Benjamin Follett-Smith had to dig deep on Friday to retain the Fortress Invitational lead, and he did so with a one-over-par 72 for a one-shot lead going into the weekend at Houghton Golf Club.
Follett-Smith led by three shots going into Friday’s second round following a stunning 63 on day one. But he had a far more challenging second round.
After teeing off the 10th, the Zimbabwean professional opened with a birdie which seemed to suggest another strong day ahead.
But five bogeys in the next seven holes dropped him down the field. He recovered himself with a birdie on the ninth and then had a strong second nine featuring three more birdies before another bogey on the seventh for a 72 that was still enough to keep him ahead on seven under par overall.
Despite shooting a second-round 1-over-par 72, 🇿🇼Benjamin Follett-Smith will take a one-stroke lead into the third round of The Fortress Invitational 💪 #sunshinetour #greatnessbeginshere #thefortressinvitational https://t.co/JwcmWSSBYQ
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) October 9, 2026
It opened the door for the rest of the field.
Graham van der Merwe, currently in third place on The Courier Guy Order of Merit, signed for a 68 to finish on six under par as one of Follett-Smith’s nearest challengers.
Haydn Porteous carded a 69 and Altin van de Merwe, already a winner on Tour this year in the FBC Zim Open, added a 67 to see them also finish the day on six under par.
And with Austin Bautista, currently second on The Courier Guy Order of Merit and a winner this year in the FNB Eswatini Challenge, just two shots off the lead, it’s going to be a competitive weekend of golf at Houghton Golf Club.
Follett-Smith is hunting his fourth victory this year on the Sunshine Tour after winning the Cell C Challenge in January.
SCORES
-7 - Benjamin Follett-Smith 63 72
-6 - Haydn Porteous 67 69
-6 - Graham van der Merwe 68 68, Altin van der Merwe 69 67
-5 - Luke Brown 67 70
-5 - Austin Bautista 70 67, Morris Schiefner 71 66
-4 - Lyle Rowe 67 71
-4 - Luis Carrera 71 67, JJ Senekal 72 66, Jonathan Broomhead 66 72, Stals Swart 66 72, Robson Chinhoi 68 70
-3 - Ricky Hendler 69 70
-3 - Daniel van Tonder 66 73, Hennie O'Kennedy 72 67, Tyran Snyders 69 70
-2 - Eric Wowor 71 69
-2 - Nikhil Rama 71 69, Warwick Purchase 69 71, Jaco Prinsloo 70 70, Pierre Viallaneix 71 69, Joe Sullivan 73 67, Jbe Kruger 71 69, Estiaan Conradie 69 71, Adam Breen 69 71
-1 - Keagan Thomas 70 71
-1 - Ryan van der Klis 69 72, Jordan Burnand 73 68, Simon du Plooy 70 71, Tristan Leonard 74 67
Par - Jaco Van Zyl 68 74