Jonathan Broomhead did not have the services of a hot putter and it was a tougher, windier day at Umhlali Country Club on Thursday, but the Sunshine Tour rookie still managed to hang on to the lead after the second round of the SunBet Challenge hosted by Sun Sibaya.
The 22-year-old will go into the final round with a narrow one-stroke lead after following up his wonderful 63 on the opening day with a one-over-par 72 on Thursday.
Broomhead is on seven-under for the tournament and will have to hold off the challenges of Christiaan Burke (-6), Keenan Davidse (-5) and Doug McGuigan and Luke Jerling, who are both on four-under.
But the way he held his round together amidst great frustration on Thursday augurs well for his composure in the final round as he chases a maiden professional title.
✍️ 66, 🇿🇦 Karabo Mokoena.
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) October 26, 2023
✍️ 66, 🇵🇹 Nicholaus Frade.
✍️ 66, 🏴 Doug McGuigan.
The trio made the biggest move 📈 on moving day 👏 #SunBetChallengeSibaya | #SunBetChallenge | #GreatnessBeginsHere | #SunshineTour
“It was a tough day and it is hard to stay calm under pressure. The wind was up today, it blew a lot harder and from the other direction, so it was a lot more tricky out there today,” Broomhead said.
“I hit the ball fine, but I just really struggled with my putting. I didn’t make nearly as many putts as on the first day. It was not an easy round. I was in a couple of spots I should not have hit into, but I held on quite nicely.”
Broomhead began his round on Thursday with a bogey at the par-four first and he was two-over through five holes. But back-to-back birdies around the turn and another at the par-four 14th partially offset two more bogeys on the back nine.
Burke started on the 10th and was three-under when he reached the turn, but a bogey on the par-four ninth cost him a share of the lead, leaving him with a 69.
Davidse also shot 69 including an eagle at the par-five 13th, his fourth hole, while veteran McGuigan dropped just one shot and posted a 66, the joint low-round of the day, to roar up the leaderboard.
As tough as Thursday was, Broomhead knows Friday’s final round could be even more daunting because talk of even stronger winds is being bandied about the scenic course just 20 minutes north of Durban.
“The weather forecast is apparently not so good in terms of even more wind. There are a few other things to worry about too and obviously there are going to be nerves leading in the final round. But I believe nerves are good and I won’t be looking too far ahead. I’ve got my processes and I will just stick to those,” Broomhead said.
🗣️ Jonathan Broomhead will be drawing from his 2022 #SunBetChallengeSibaya experience heading into the final round at Umhlali Country Club tomorrow 📈
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) October 26, 2023
#SunBetChallenge | #GreatnessBeginsHere | #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/Tq1Utnx6ro
SCORES:
135 - Jonathan Broomhead 63 72
136 - Christiaan Burke 67 69
137 - Keenan Davidse 68 69
138 - Doug McGuigan 72 66, Luke Jerling 68 70
139 - Leon Visser 71 68, Danie Van Niekerk 72 67, Rhys West 70 69, Pieter Moolman 71 68, Keegan Mclachlan 67 72, Karabo Mokoena 73 66, Dylan Mostert 68 71, Nikhil Rama 69 70
140 - Sean Bradley 70 70, Kyle Barker 71 69, Keagan Thomas 69 71, Jean Hugo 73 67, Jason Roets 70 70, Anthony Michael 71 69
141 - Nicholaus Frade 75 66, Heinrich Bruiners 72 69, Christiaan Basson 68 73, Jaco Van Zyl 68 73, Blanche Lamprecht 68 73, Pierre Pellegrin 70 71, Jack Hawksby 69 72, Adam Breen 71 70, Robin Williams 67 74, Martin Vorster 70 71
142 - Kyle De Beer 70 72, Richard Joubert 70 72, Conner Mackenzie 68 74, Dylan Naidoo 71 71, Neil Schietekat 71 71, Paul Boshoff 68 74, Gerhard Pepler 72 70, Yurav Premlall 69 73, Luke Brown 70 72, Kyle McClatchie 68 74
143 - Sean Cronje 71 72, Merrick Bremner 73 70, Vaughn van Deventer 70 73, Lindani Ndwandwe 70 73, Madalitso Muthiya 71 72, Luca Filippi 73 70, Jacques P de Villiers 69 74, Ryan Van Velzen 68 75, Martin Rohwer 69 74, Rhys Enoch 72 71, Sentanio Minnie 72 71
Missed the cut:-
144 - Willie Olivier 72 72, Ethan Smith 74 70, Haydn Porteous 73 71, Erhard Lambrechts 71 73, Toto Thimba Jnr 71 73, Trevor Fisher Jnr 73 71, Peter Karmis 72 72, Quintin Wilsnach 71 73, Keelan van Wyk 71 73
145 - Thabang Simon 72 73, Jacques Blaauw 74 71, Ruan Conradie 75 70, Joe Long 70 75, Rourke van der Spuy 71 74, Michael Kok 76 69, Travis Ladner 71 74, James Pennington 74 71, Aneurin Gounden 71 74, Robson Chinhoi 69 76, Hennie Otto 72 73, Matthew Spacey 72 73, Mandla Dlamini Jnr 70 75, Callum Mowat 76 69, Emile Steinmann 75 70
146 - Drikus Joubert 70 76, Jared Harvey 74 72, Marcel Steyn Scholtz 75 71, Gregory Mckay 75 71, Colin Nel 75 71, Ruan de Smidt 72 74, Ruan Korb 73 73, MJ Viljoen 74 72, Ricky Hendler 70 76, Adriel Poonan 70 76, Chris Cannon 73 73
147 - Hayden Griffiths 70 77, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 75 72, Combrinck Smit 70 77, Hennie O'Kennedy 74 73, David Wicks 71 76
148 - Alphius Kelapile 76 72, Nyasha Muyambo 72 76, Estiaan Conradie 76 72, Lyle Rowe 76 72, Richie O'Donovan 73 75, Fezekile Kana 76 72, Thanda Mavundla 72 76, Tristin Galant 74 74
149 - Makhetha Mazibuko 75 74, Rupert Kaminski 76 73, Dayne Moore 72 77, Michael Hollick 74 75, Jake Redman 75 74, Franklin Manchest 79 70, Wynand Dingle 74 75, Malcolm Mitchell 80 69, DK Kim 76 73, Ryan Tipping 72 77
150 - Philip Geerts 76 74, Christopher Long 82 68, Wade Jacobs 77 73, SP Mthethwa 73 77
151 - LB Boshoff 78 73, Tyron Davidowitz 75 76
152 - Basil Wright Jr 72 80, Siyanda Mwandla 75 77, James Mack 73 79
155 - Sydney Joseph Wemba 72 83
156 - Gerard du Plooy 77 79, Jastice Mashego 76 80, Gerhard Trytsman 75 81
158 - Shalan Govender 80 78
160 - Allister de Kock 81 79
161 - Ricco Motsa 79 82
DSQ - Jonathan Waschefort 81 DSQ