Top South African amateur Christiaan Bezuidenhout pulled within striking distance of second-round pace setter Pieter Kruger, while three-time Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open champion Daniel Slabbert survived the cut in his IGT Tour Race to Q-School debut at Centurion Country Club on Tuesday.
Bezuidenhout and Kruger were both in action in the South African Open Championship last week.
The country’s leading amateur earned automatic exemption, but Kruger was one of 11 IGT regulars among the 16 qualifiers who had to battle for positions at Glendower.
Both players missed the cut, however, but just two days later they are back in the hunt for glory. Bezuidenhout, in particular, wanted to the disappointment behind him by getting back on the horse as quickly as possible.
“I had probably one of my best ball striking weeks at Glendower, but my putter went ice cold,” he said. “I hit every fairway and green for two days solid, but I couldn’t sink a putt over eight feet.
“I just needed to get rid of the disappointment and frustration, and this has done it for me.”
Kruger opened with a six under 66 and added a 70 in his second trip around the 7 328 metre layout in Pretoria to lead at eight-under-par 144.
Bezuidenhout carded a first round 67 and followed with a 71
“I had three great birdies before the turn, but I lost the advantage with bogeys at the third, fifth and seventh holes,” Bezuidenhout said. “I had a plugged lie in the bunker at the par-three and at the other two holes, I hit some wayward shots to the green and paid the price.
“What I would like most on Wednesday is to hand in a bogey-free card in the final round, just to show myself I can do it.”
Meanwhile Slabbert extended his stay in Pretoria after two 77s left him on the cut-line at 10-over-par.
The 22-year-old from Kathu, who lost his leg in a freak trampoline accident as a teenager, has been dominating the disabled golf scene and in April this year, showed up the country’s top amateurs with a tie for seventh in the Highveld Open.
Rae Mackie (70) finished in third on 138, while IGT Race to Q-School Silver Lakes winner Zander Lombard carded a 69 to tie two-time IGT Race to Q-School winner Robbie Lupine (73) at four under.
But for the five bogeys on his card, South Africa’s No 2 ranked Lombard could have been leading after rallying with four birdies and eagles at the par-five first and 12th holes.
Former Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur champion Iliska Verwey will also join the final round action after rounds of 75 and 74, while the low round of the day was a trio of 68s from professionals James Searson, Otto van Greunen and Brenden de Lange, another Race to Q-School winner this season.
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