The low scoring continued in the second round of the Stella Artois Players Championship at Dainfern Country Club on Friday as South Africa’s Luca Filippi posted his first 29 over nine holes in a tournament for a 64 and American Dan Erickson signed for a 62 to see them share the lead on 16 under par going into the weekend.
They are two strokes clear of Darren Fichardt, Lyle Rowe, Tristen Strydom, Luke Jerling and Jovan Rebula after 36 holes in which the halfway cut fell at five under par.
Erickson carded two eagles during his round, while Filippi turned one under for the round and then lit up his second nine.
“It was just a magical nine. I had a six-metre putt on the last hole to break 30 and it was an unreal feeling to get that first 29 in a tournament,” said Filippi, who has been showing signs of this kind of performance.
“I’ve been playing some great golf recently and come close so many times now, so I’m really looking forward to what unfolds on the weekend. I’ve been getting more comfortable in high pressure situations and understanding what your body does under pressure. I’ve been working hard with a psychologist and we talk a lot about staying in the moment, and that’s been a real switch for me. It’s just about feeling comfortable and knowing what kind of shot shape I hit under the gun.”
Filippi identified the par fives as the key to scoring at Dainfern, and co-leader Erickson felt exactly the same.
“They’re lighting it up out here. It’s crazy how low the scores have been. I don’t find that the golf course is really set up that easy. I think it’s just the fact that the par fives are reachable, so you can really take advantage of those. I had eagle looks on all the par fives today and made two of them.”
Much like Filippi, Erickson is also doing his best to stay in the present on a golf course where it can feel like you are losing ground if you’re not making a handful of birdies.
“My first experience here felt like I was on the @PGATOUR ”
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) April 14, 2023
Co-leader ???? @danericksongolf shares his thoughts after his second round of 62 #StellaArtoisPlayersChamps | #GreatnessBeginsHere | #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/XaT1wZXKbL
How things stand heading into the weekend ??#StellaArtoisPlayersChamps | #GreatnessBeginsHere | #SunshineTour
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) April 14, 2023
SCORES:
128 - Dan Erickson 66 62, Luca Filippi 64 64
130 - Darren Fichardt 62 68, Lyle Rowe 65 65, Tristen Strydom 63 67, Luke Jerling 64 66, Jovan Rebula 64 66
131 - Jaco Van Zyl 66 65, Keagan Thomas 64 67
132 - Kyle Barker 68 64, Rupert Kaminski 65 67, Malcolm Mitchell 67 65, Leon Vorster 66 66
133 - Daniel van Tonder 66 67, Robin Williams 67 66, Jared Harvey 64 69, JJ Senekal 67 66, Rourke van der Spuy 67 66, Peter Karmis 68 65
134 - Jacques Blaauw 68 66, Michael Palmer 66 68, Ryan Van Velzen 67 67, Estiaan Conradie 65 69, Keenan Davidse 67 67
135 - Jacques P de Villiers 68 67, Harry Konig 69 66, Dylan Mostert 64 71, Albert Venter 64 71, Stefan Wears-Taylor 68 67, Ruan Korb 68 67, Quintin Wilsnach 67 68, Combrinck Smit 70 65
136 - Callum Mowat 66 70, Louis Albertse 69 67, Chris Cannon 70 66, Doug McGuigan 69 67, Henning du Plooy 70 66, Dylan Naidoo 70 66, Sean Bradley 68 68
137 - Siyanda Mwandla 70 67, Heinrich Bruiners 70 67, Casey Jarvis 71 66, Adam Breen 69 68, Wynand Dingle 70 67, Rhys West 72 65, Pierre Pellegrin 67 70, James Mack 69 68, Jean Hugo 68 69
138 - Ulrich van den Berg 70 68, Mutahi Kibugu 69 69, CJ du Plessis 72 66, Franklin Manchest 66 72, Herman Loubser 70 68, Martin Rohwer 69 69, Christiaan Burke 67 71, Richard Joubert 69 69, Kyle McClatchie 69 69
139 - Wallie Coetsee 71 68, Nikhil Rama 69 70, James Hart du Preez 70 69, Alex Haindl 70 69, Thriston Lawrence 70 69, Matias Calderon 69 70, Pieter Moolman 72 67
Missed the cut:
140 - Ruan de Smidt 71 69, Hennie O'Kennedy 71 69, Martin Vorster 71 69, Christiaan Basson 70 70, Dean O'Riley 68 72, Makhetha Mazibuko 69 71, Bradley Bawden 70 70, Brandon Stone 69 71, Hennie Otto 71 69, Sean Cronje 71 69
141 - Clayton Mansfield 70 71, Jason Smith 68 73, Chris Swanepoel 76 65, Rhys Enoch 67 74, Therion Nel 68 73, Thabang Simon 69 72
142 - Fredrik From 69 73, Toto Thimba Jnr 73 69, Lindani Ndwandwe 68 74, Michael Hollick 71 71, Erhard Lambrechts 68 74, Stephen Ferreira 70 72, Luke Brown 68 74
143 - Steve Surry 72 71, Keelan van Wyk 70 73, Jastice Mashego 68 75, Allister de Kock 72 71, Ruan Conradie 74 69
144 - Musiwalo Nethunzwi 72 72, Mohammad Rauf Mandhu 75 69, Keelan Africa 76 68, Gerard du Plooy 76 68, Yurav Premlall 72 72, Slenda Sithebe 75 69, Jean-Paul Strydom 71 73, Jake Redman 72 72, Clancy Waugh 71 73, Vaughn van Deventer 72 72, Thanda Mavundla 69 75
145 - Steven Le Roux 72 73, Merrick Bremner 74 71, Alphius Kelapile 72 73, Hayden Griffiths 73 72, Madalitso Muthiya 71 74, Matthew Spacey 71 74, Andre Van Dyk 72 73
146 - Wade Jacobs 72 74, Evance Vukeya 76 70, Jordan Duminy 74 72, Danie Van Niekerk 75 71, Mandla Dlamini Jnr 74 72, Andre De Decker 72 74, Michael Kok 73 73
147 - James Kamte 72 75, Riekus Nortje 72 75, Dwayne Basson 71 76, James Pennington 70 77
148 - Karabo Mokoena 69 79, Dayne Moore 77 71, Clinton Grobler 75 73, Maverick Faber 77 71
149 - Irvin Mazibuko 73 76
150 - Paul Boshoff 72 78, Shaahid Mahmed 77 73
151 - Lwazi Gqira 75 76
152 - Samuel Simpson 74 78, Andre De Jager 77 75, Tumelo Molloyi 80 72
153 - Adriel Poonan 71 82, Lincon Denzy Cele 74 79
154 - Brandon-Jude Rennie 75 79
157 - Sandy Makume 77 80
158 - SP Mthethwa 78 80
WDN - Trevor Fisher Jnr 76 WDN