Ulrich Van Den Berg took full advantage of the excellent course conditions at Dainfern Golf Club and shot a second-round 66, bringing his total to 10-under for the week and two shots clear of the field ahead of Thursday’s final round.
“I’ve played some steady golf,” said the veteran campaigner of his first 36 holes here. “I’ve driven the ball well and when you drive the ball well around here, you’re going to give yourself chances.
“But, it’s kudos to the ground staff here. These are some of the best greens I’ve ever played. They resemble what the guys are playing this week on the Sunshine Tour in Zimbabwe; I’ve always said those are the best greens all year. So, big-up to Dainfern for showing up with a world-class golf course this week.”
Starting his second round from the 10th, Van den Berg made five straight pars in what seemed a measured approach. Then, a hat-trick of birdies followed as the 50-year-old Van Den Berg turned in 33 and bogey-free. After the turn, Van Den Berg gave away a shot on the first, his 10th, but recovered swiftly on the next hole, making a birdie there to keep the foot on the gas.
Three uninterrupted pars preceded another hat-trick of birdies, this time on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes of the golf course. He closed off with a par on nine, sealing a round of six-under 66 to lead.
England’s Joe Sullivan, Drikus Joubert and member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, Musiwalo Nethunzwi are in a three-man tie for second at eight-under. Despite making a bogey and double bogey in the round, Sullivan was able to weave together a round of 67.
Joubert backed up his opening 68 with another on day two, while Nethunzwi’s 70 was enough to get him in that share of second. Andrew Williamson and Brandon Gildenhuys share fifth at seven-under while the recently-turned-pro Oliver Goldhill shares seventh with Ryan Tipping, overnight leader Richard Joubert and former Sunshine Tour winner, Haydn Porteous at six under-par.
The final round of this 54-hole event promises to be a spectacle as there will be no less than 10 players with a real chance of challenging for glory in this first tournament of this new campaign.
The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els among other patrons.
SCORES:
134 - Ulrich van den Berg 68 66
136 - Joe Sullivan 69 67, Drikus Joubert 68 68, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 66 70
137 - Andrew Williamson 69 68, Brandon Gildenhuys 71 66
138 - Ryan Tipping 68 70, Oliver Goldhill 69 69, Richard Joubert 65 73, Haydn Porteous 67 71
139 - Harry Konig 70 69, Philip Geerts 71 68, Reece Mc Kain 67 72, Jaden Deltel 70 69, Tiger Adams 69 70
140 - Jason Froneman 70 70, Lyle Pedro 71 69, Karabo Mokoena 70 70, Austin Cherichella 68 72, Jarryd Elliott 72 68, Adam Breen 70 70
141 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 74 67, Gary Kemp 70 71, Daniel Cronje 67 74
142 - Marcel Steyn Scholtz 71 71, Johan Theron 74 68, Vaughn van Deventer 73 69, Matthew Rushton 73 69, Travis Procter 69 73, Keagan Crosbie 74 68, Therion Nel 75 67, Sentanio Minnie 72 70, Tristan Leonard 71 71
MISSED THE CUT:-
143 - DK Kim 70 73, Jastice Mashego 72 71, Ruan Groenewald 69 74, Brandon Pieters 72 71
144 - Johnathan Ackerman 73 71, Thabiso Ngcobo 71 73, Carl Mwale 72 72, Jarryd Govender 73 71, Tumelo Molloyi 74 70
145 - Travis Ladner 68 77, Makhetha Mazibuko 73 72, Liam Ross 72 73, Dillon Germshuys 73 72
146 - Wade Jacobs 72 74, Regan Steyn 70 76, Siyanda Mwandla 72 74, James Pennington 72 74, Thanda Mavundla 71 75, Josh Hirsch 78 68, Louis Liebenberg 74 72, Logan Leisher 74 72, Nicko Venter 74 72
147 - Jonathan Waschefort 72 75, Luke Mayo 74 73, Wandre Snyman 73 74, LB Boshoff 73 74, Khanya Mkhize 73 74
148 - Jacques Van der Merwe 74 74, Andre Van Zyl 72 76
149 - Lwazi Gqira 74 75, Steven Le Roux 74 75, Thabang Simon 74 75
150 - Richard Kruger 72 78
151 - Shaheed Patel 74 77
152 - Evance Vukeya 78 74, Teboho Sefatsa 75 77, Mitch Phigeland 75 77, Matthew Dennis 75 77
153 - Ricco Motsa 80 73, Allister de Kock 77 76
154 - Kayle Wykes 75 79, Kyle Kistensamy 76 78
156 - Alphius Kelapile 75 81
157 - John Bele 78 79, Jabulane Mabilane 76 81, Shaunak Rama 74 83
158 - Mark Maart 84 74, Merrick Bremner 78 80
160 - John Palm 78 82
164 - Hayden Garcia 82 82
165 - Austin Mashego 81 84, Kael Strydom 85 80, Tawriq Abrahams 85 80
169 - Sipho Bujela 84 85
RTD - Irvin Mosate wa Mazibuko 72 RTD