Looking to take home the winner’s share worth R15,000 from The House of Machines, Mahoney produced the goods to leapfrog overnight leader Drikus Bruyns and pull away from playing partner Cameron Esau.
The 25-year-old Pearl Valley golfer traded three bogeys for three birdies on the front nine and notched a hat-trick of birdies after the turn on his way to a 69 and a one stroke lead at six-under-par 138 over Esau.
“It was quite funny, because Cameron struggled off the tee on the front nine and I struggled on the back, but we both ended up signing for 69s,” Mahoney said.
“I think it’s going to be an epic fight to the finish tomorrow, because the leaderboard is pretty tight.”
Mahoney said he will use the same tactic that carried him into the winner’s circle at Kuilsrivier Golf Club in his first start on the IGT Cape Tour.
“I learned a lot from that first event,” he said. “I was also struggling from the tee and I just tried to play percentage golf. I didn’t go for any outrageous shots and I didn’t get too aggressive.
“That strategy worked for me on the back nine today. Those three birdies happened so quickly, I barely had time to register, but then I started struggling again.
“So I just stayed patient and played tee to green. I made a few crucial par-saves, but the key is to keep your mistakes to a minimum when you are not hitting it great off the tee.
But the Devonvale golfer is not the only threat in Mahoney’s rear-view mirror.
Metropolitan Classic champion Keenan Davidse Dwayne Basson and Milnerton Classic winner Adrian Ford finished just two off the pace, while Matthew Kent (69) and Bruyns (74) are three strokes adrift.
“I am definitely not feeling over-confident just because I won the last event,” Mahoney said.
SECOND ROUND SCORES (Top 20)
(All players RSA unless otherwise specified; amateurs indicated as AMA)
138 Trevor Mahoney 69 69
139 Cameron Esau 70 69
140 Keenan Davidse 70 70; Dwayne Basson 68 72; Adrian Ford 68 72
141 Matthew Kent 72 69; Drikus Bruyns 67 74
142 Heinrich Bruiners 74 68
143 Christiaan Bezuidenhout 74 69; Le Roux Ferreira 71 72
144 Louis Claassen 72 72
145 Jason Diab 74 71; Christiaan Basson 72 73; Peter Karmis 71 74
146 Jean-Paul Strydom 76 70; Johan Du Buisson 74 72
147 Danie Pretorius 73 74
148 Marlon Swarts 74 74
149 Albert Van Zyl (AMA) 73 76
152 Pieter Woest 76 76
ABOUT THE IGT TOUR
The IGT Challenge Pro Tour launched in 2010 and has fast grown into South Africa’s premier developmental golf tour, offering a tailor-made gateway for amateurs aspiring to join the pro ranks.
The IGT Challenge Pro Tour Gauteng, KZN and Cape provides significant financial opportunities and incentives, and statistical feedback with a full playing schedule of 64 events (36-hole, 54-hole and 72-hole tournaments) that enables its members and non-members to perform at a high level in a strong competitive environment.
Article: Lali Stander.
