NATIONAL NEWS - Norman Beggs and his Swedish partner Johnathan Agren birdied the last three holes at Zwartkop Country Club to take the second round lead in the IGT Tour’s GMC Doubles on Wednesday.
The pair blazed the front nine in 30 strokes and reeled in four gains on the back nine for a 10 under 61 to surge to a one stroke lead on 20 under par.
“Johnathan and I made six birdies on the front nine and we saw the leading score was 19 under when we turned, so we set ourselves a target of 20 under,” Beggs said.
“The back nine definitely plays a little tougher, but we were determined to take advantage of the par fives at 16 and 18, and managed to pick up another pair of birdies at 13 and 17. Johnathan made most of the birdies in the first round and today I holed everything I looked at.
“It’s a great format and such a nice change of pace. You always have one guy who can go for broke off the tee and Johnathan and I dovetailed really well in both rounds.
“Our game plan for the final round is to start as hot as possible. The par fours and par threes are a little shorter on the front nine, so you really have to make your move in the first nine holes. We have a bunch of guys chasing our tail, so we need to fire from the get-go.”
Sunshine Tour rookie Agren agreed.
“If we want to take this, we’ll need to almost birdie every hole on the front nine to put some distance between us and the chasing park. But you can do it on the first nine holes, and then you just need to keep that momentum going.”
GFG Academy duo Russel Franz and Hennie du Plessis, who held a share of the two-way tie in round one, combined for a 63 to slip into joint second.
The pair tied with Anton Haig and Justin Turner, who eagled both par fives down the straight for a blistering 60, while Jaco Prinsloo and JC Ritchie carded a 62 to join the chase at 19 under.
Joint overnight leaders Danie van Tonder and Jared Harvey lag a further shot back alongside international pair Antonio Rosado from Portugal and England’s David Ashley.
SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD
(All players RSA unless otherwise specified and amateurs indicated as AMA)
122 - Norman Beggs & Johnathan Agren 61 61
123 - Russel Franz & Hennie du Plessis 60 & 63; Justin Turner & Anton Haig 63 60; Jaco Prinsloo & JC Ritchie 61 62
124 - Jared Harvey & Danie van Tonder 60 64; Antonio Rosado POR & David Ashley ENG 61 63
125 - Roux Jeffery NAM & Ruan Huysamen NAM 62 63
127 - CJ Levey & CJ du Plessis 64 63; Arthur Horne SWZ & Tyrone Mc Comb 64 63; Ryan Wingrove (AMA) & Clinton Grobler 61 66
128 - Sheldon Steyn ZIM & Eddie Taylor 66 62
129 - Gerard du Plooy & Damian Naicker 69 60; Stephan du Toit (AMA) & Morne du Plessis (AMA) 66 63; Chris Erasmus & Jacques de Villiers 63 66
130 - Jonathan Waschefort & Marco de Beer (AMA) 67 63; Matthew Vogel & Dylan O'Leary 68 62; Brendan Britten NAM & Zillan du Pisani (AMA) 65 65; Michael Armstrong (AMA) & Matthew Adams (AMA) 64 66; Bryce McCabe & Wayne Stroebel 65 65
131 - Simon Kruger & Duane Keun 63 68; Ettienne Bond & Jason Froneman 65 66; James Searson & Mark Fraser 69 62; Wayne du Toit & Conway Kunneke 67 64
132 - Ruan Botha & Walter Behr (AMA) 64 68; Andi Dill & Alastair Waddell 67 65
133 - Brett Liddle & Dean van Staden 66 67; Elvis Sithebe & Mpho Mafishe 67 66; Michael Schutz (AMA) & Michael van Hoeck 70 63
134 - Johary Raveloarison MAD & Juan Langeveld 67 67; Louis Taylor & Hilton Hughes (AMA) 65 69; Garth Wolter & Stephen Pienaar (AMA) 67 67; Lowies (AMA) & Jooste (AMA) 69 65
ARTICLE: LALI STANDER
