Daniel van Tonder overcame a bee sting on the first tee to claim a share of the lead going into the weekend of the Sunshine Tour’s Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club.
Van Tonder signed for a second round of 69 on Friday to share a one-stroke lead with Christiaan Burke (67) on nine under par overall.
“On the first tee box, just before we teed off, a bee stung me on my right hand, causing a bit of swelling. My hand was swollen and burning. It wasn’t easy to hold the club and get some feel,” Van Tonder said.
Despite the discomfort, Van Tonder birdied the first hole and played his way into contention for his third victory this year.
“It was a tough day with the wind, and the greens were really tricky in the afternoon. But I think I coped well with everything. I’m happy with my game,” he said.
Alongside him, Burke claimed a share of the lead with a run of three consecutive birdies in his final six holes.
“Today was really good, but it was quite tough with the wind. It was swirling a lot, so it was difficult to get the distances right. I was putting solid and just tried to manage my game around the course,” said Burke, who is hunting his maiden title on the Sunshine Tour this weekend.
“I know this course well. I play here a lot. Heading into the weekend, I’ll just stick to my own game and not worry about the other golfers. I’ll just focus on hitting the fairways and greens and the putts will come. I am hitting the ball well, so it will be an exciting next two days.”
It’s still a tight leaderboard with a group of five players just one shot off the leaders and including Kyle Barker, Tyrone Ryan, Jonathan Broomhead, Deon Germishuys and Rhys Enoch.
SCORES
135 - Daniel van Tonder 66 69, Christiaan Burke 68 67
136 - Kyle Barker 69 67, Tyrone Ryan 68 68, Jonathan Broomhead 68 68, Rhys Enoch 69 67, Deon Germishuys 67 69
137 - Warwick Purchase 66 71, Mikkel Antonsen 69 68, Jason Roets 67 70
138 - James Mack 69 69, Kyle De Beer 69 69, Heinrich Bruiners 69 69, CJ du Plessis 68 70, Tyran Snyders 66 72, Benjamin Follett-Smith 65 73, Benjamin Van Wyk 65 73, Pierre Viallaneix 70 68
139 - Ulrich van den Berg 72 67, Rupert Kaminski 72 67
140 - Thomas Spreadborough 70 70, Justin Walters 68 72, Pieter Moolman 68 72, Keegan Mclachlan 69 71
141 - Trevor Fisher Jnr 71 70, Graham van der Merwe 72 69, Neil Schietekat 70 71, Haydn Porteous 73 68, Karabo Mokoena 71 70, Hennie Otto 68 73, Martin Vorster 66 75, Dylan Frittelli 73 68, Michael Hollick 71 70, Jaco Prinsloo 68 73
142 - JJ Senekal 70 72, Keenan Davidse 72 70, Stephen Ferreira 71 71, Luis Carrera 72 70, Kieron van Wyk 69 73, Ryan van der Klis 72 70, Herman Loubser 73 69, Luke Brown 69 73, Louis Albertse 67 75, Gerhard Pepler 70 72, Lyle Rowe 69 73
143 - Allen John 71 72, Jacques P de Villiers 72 71, Keelan van Wyk 72 71, Samuel Simpson 74 69, Keagan Thomas 71 72, Keanu Pestana 75 68, Hayden Griffiths 71 72, Kyle McClatchie 68 75, Matthew Spacey 67 76, Otto Van Buynder 70 73
Missed the cut:-
144 - Jean Hugo 76 68, Nikhil Rama 71 73, Rhys West 72 72, Ruan Korb 71 73, Jacquin Hess 71 73, Christian Kriek 73 71, Tumelo Molloyi 69 75, Hennie O'Kennedy 76 68, Peter Karmis 73 71, Ethan Smith 71 73, Joe Long 70 74, Ricky Hendler 71 73, Luke Jerling 67 77, Jordan Burnand 69 75, Gregory Mckay 70 74, Quintin Wilsnach 70 74
145 - Leon Vorster 72 73, MJ Viljoen 73 72, Franklin Manchest 71 74, Brandon Meads 77 68, Toto Thimba Jnr 71 74, Wynand Dingle 71 74, Rowan Lester 71 74, Anthony Michael 72 73, Stals Swart 68 77
146 - Makhetha Mazibuko 76 70, Albert Venter 69 77, Jacques Blaauw 74 72, Dylan Mostert 72 74, Yurav Premlall 74 72, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 73 73, George Coetzee 74 72, Conner Mackenzie 74 72, Werner Deyzel 72 74
147 - Zachary Chegwidden 74 73, Christiaan Basson 75 72, Estiaan Conradie 73 74, Siyanda Mwandla 73 74, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 74 73, Ross Wellington 73 74, Liam Grehan 74 73
148 - Xander Basson 73 75, Altin van der Merwe 71 77, Stuart Krog 71 77, Jean-Paul Strydom 72 76, Malcolm Mitchell 71 77, Kian Rose 73 75
149 - Keelan Africa 75 74, Callum Mowat 78 71, Robson Chinhoi 75 74, Jack Hawksby 76 73, Rourke van der Spuy 73 76, Tristen Strydom 72 77, Ruan de Smidt 74 75, Nick Cunningham 74 75
150 - Danie Van Niekerk 73 77, Ronald Rugumayo 74 76, Luca Filippi 74 76
151 - Tyron Davidowitz 79 72, Marcus Sandile Taylor 78 73, Ruan Conradie 77 74, Slenda Sithebe 75 76, Slade Pickering 70 81, Khanya Mkhize 77 74, Simon du Plooy 73 78, Joe Knox 74 77
152 - Jason Broomhead 76 76, Eric Wowor 79 73, Trevor Mahoney 75 77, Paul Boshoff 77 75
153 - Thabiso Ngcobo 75 78, Shaunak Rama 77 76, Luke Mayo 72 81, Kayle Wykes 76 77, Ruan Groenewald 81 72
154 - Nyasha Muyambo 78 76
155 - Tomas Gana 78 77, Sentanio Minnie 81 74, Jastice Mashego 75 80, James Pennington 78 77
156 - Marcel Steyn Scholtz 78 78
157 - Harry Konig 75 82, Mark Maart 75 82, Tristin Galant 71 86
159 - Jordan Duminy 83 76, Umar Davids 80 79
162 - Merrick Bremner 81 81, Jake Redman 83 79
163 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 78 85
WDN - Allister de Kock 80 WDN, Thanda Mavundla 85 WDN