Ulrich van den Berg takes a two-shot lead into the final round of the Big Easy Tour event at Dainfern Golf Club on Thursday.
The veteran campaigner shot a second-round 66, bringing his total to 10 under for the week.
“I’ve played some steady golf,” he said of his first 36 holes. “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 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 6th, 7th and 8th 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.
Photo: Big Easy Tour
