Travis Procter backed up his opening round of 67 with another on day two of the Betway Big Easy Blue Label Invitational, taking a one-stroke lead into the final round at Waterkloof Golf Club, in the process.
Seven birdies and two drops characterised Procter’s round, and his second-round five-under 67 was enough to see the Capetonian climb to the top of the leaderboard ahead of what promises to be an exciting final round in the country’s Capital.
“Funny enough, I had never seen this course until yesterday’s first round,” revealed Procter. “I didn’t play the practice round, but luckily, Andries, my caddie, has been really helpful; he knows this course well.
“But it’s kind of my type of golf course; it reminds me of my course back home, Durbanville. You can hit it a bit skew, but there are a lot of opportunities if your wedges and putting is good. I feel quite comfortable around here.”
Slim as his lead may be going into the final 18 holes here, Procter has got a real shot at claiming his maiden title on this Sunshine Tour feeder circuit.
“I feel like I’ve been playing really well the whole year,” he noted. “I just haven’t managed to put a tournament together. But for once, everything is working and everything is feeling good. I’m hitting it well; I’m chipping it really well.
"I’ve actually made a few putts too and birdied all the par-threes today. I don’t think I’ve ever done that in my life, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Hot on Procter’s heels is Oliver Goldhill who shot 68 on day two to take his total to nine-under for the week and just a stroke off the pace. The rookie has shown glimpses of brilliance this season and will feel that a breakthrough win is on the horizon.
“It was really solid today,” said Goldhill. “I kept it in play most of the time and played some really good wedges. And the putter worked again. It’s been a bit frustrating to feel like you’ve been knocking on the door and it won’t open. But I feel like it is coming in closer and closer. Hopefully, this week is the one.”
The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons. The Betway Big Easy Blue Label Invitational is a series which the Big Easy co-hosts with the Bushveld Tour to provide more playing opportunities to members of both tours.
SCORES
134 - Travis Procter 67 67
135 - Oliver Goldhill 67 68
136 - Marcel Steyn Scholtz 70 66, Keelan van Wyk 68 68, Travis Ladner 73 63
137 - Warwick Purchase 67 70, James Pennington 67 70
138 - Brandon Gildenhuys 67 71
139 - Ivan Verster 69 70, Amilkar Bhana 69 70, Paul Boshoff 72 67, Sentanio Minnie 70 69
140 - Lyle Pedro 68 72, Dylan Kayne 70 70, Haydn Porteous 71 69, Brandon Pieters 66 74, LB Boshoff 69 71, Jordan Burnand 71 69, Matthew Dennis 70 70
141 - Leon Visser 71 70, Matthew Rushton 71 70, Tiago Jorge Swart 68 73, Marcus Sandile Taylor 71 70, Eric Wowor 68 73, Tyron Davidowitz 70 71, Kian Coetzer 71 70, Matthew Bennett 70 71, Hannes Strooh 71 70
142 - Franklin Manchest 72 70, Hunter Walker 72 70, Ryan van der Klis 73 69, Tyrone Ryan 72 70, David Amm 70 72, Heinrich Bruiners 72 70
MISSED THE CUT:
143 - Thabang Simon 71 72, Jan-Hendrik Nieuwoudt 73 70, Harry Konig 70 73, Daniel Cronje 74 69, Pierre Viallaneix 71 72, Richard Joubert 69 74
144 - Xander Basson 71 73, Jordan Duminy 72 72, Dean Ralphs 72 72, Carl Mwale 70 74, Joe Knox 68 76, Thanda Mavundla 75 69, Jacquin Hess 71 73, Ruan Groenewald 68 76, Joshua Koekemoer 74 70, Allister de Kock 73 71, Thabiso Ngcobo 71 73
145 - Nikhil Rama 73 72, Nelis De Bruin 73 72, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 75 70, Sean Howell 72 73, Dillon Germshuys 70 75
146 - Reece Mc Kain 74 72, Joe Sullivan 79 67, Jaden Deltel 74 72, Keanu Pestana 73 73
147 - Slade Pickering 74 73, Louis Liebenberg 74 73, Jonathan Waschefort 74 73, Andre Van Zyl 71 76, Charl Barnard 75 72, Ryan Tipping 76 71
148 - Vaughn van Deventer 76 72, Trevor Mahoney 73 75, Matt Millar 79 69, Shaheed Patel 75 73, Josh Hirsch 74 74, Johan Theron 75 73, Albert Venter 74 74, Adam Breen 76 72, Lwazi Gqira 75 73, Austin Bautista 74 74, Rowan Lester 73 75
149 - Christopher Long 74 75, Jacques Van der Merwe 73 76, Toto Thimba Jnr 73 76, Tiger Adams 73 76, Andrew Williamson 74 75, Caden Sanders 75 74, Karabo Mokoena 76 73, Jason Froneman 72 77, Haydn Driver 72 77
150 - Steven Le Roux 73 77, Regan Steyn 78 72, Gary Kemp 76 74, Jastice Mashego 76 74
151 - Drikus Joubert 73 78, Nicko Venter 72 79, Ivan Mare 78 73, Johnathan Ackerman 81 70, Liam Ross 76 75
152 - Richard Kruger 80 72, Therion Nel 78 74, Nicholas Lavarone 75 77, Jason Broomhead 72 80, Makhetha Mazibuko 77 75, Tristin Galant 78 74, Keelan Africa 79 73
153 - Kayle Wykes 75 78, Ruben Van Der Berg 77 76, Shaydon Johnson 73 80
154 - Philip Geerts 74 80, Khanya Mkhize 78 76, Amicus De Beer 78 76
155 - Mathew Bramford 78 77, Bradley De Beer 77 78, Austin Cherichella 77 78, Jandre van Niekerk 78 77
156 - Jungwi Lee 75 81
157 - Tumelo Molloyi 79 78
158 - Kyle Kistensamy 81 77
162 - Jarryd Elliott 81 81
163 - Mike Maile 75 88
168 - Tawriq Abrahams 85 83
WDN - Irvin Mosate wa Mazibuko 83 WDN, John-George Pringle 74 RTD