Conradie in driver’s seat at Hyundai Open
Estiaan Conradie has been as consistent as a car windscreen wiper all season and he heads into the weekend of the Hyundai Open with a one-stroke lead and once again chasing a win on the Sunshine Tour.
Conradie leads the field on 13-under par after signing for a second round of 65 at the Ebotse Links on Friday.
But behind him, DP World Tour champion Yurav Premlall posted a 65 of his own to end the day one shot behind him. And Adam Breen’s comeback to the Sunshine Tour continues to bear fruit as he signed for a 67 to also share second place on 12-under, with 36 holes remaining.
And within two shots of Conradie on 11-under is a pack of proven winners on the Tour including Courier Guy Order of Merit leader and three-time winner this season, Samuel Simpson, Rwanda Open champion Kyle de Beer, FBC Zimbabwe Open champion Altin van der Merwe, and multiple Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour champion JC Ritchie.
But Conradie has been building towards something special all season, with four top-10s already. And there was no better indication of his current form than his assessment of his position this week.
“I’m happy with where I’m at,” he said after a round featuring only one bogey.
“It was a good day. Only one bogey through 36 holes is always good. I managed to safely keep the ball in play today and hit a lot of fairways.”
The Gauteng heatwave remains a challenge for the course and the players.
“I teed off early and the course felt a little bit tougher this morning, with a bit of breeze out there. It kind of died down a little bit but I think there was still more wind than yesterday. The course is also still drying out with the current heatwave. But I’m happy to be up there going into the weekend and hopefully I can just keep it up and keep going.”
The weekend also holds plenty of opportunity for Breen. Having worked his way back onto the Sunshine Tour, he’s looking to take full advantage over the next two rounds.
“I was very solid today tee to green. I gave myself a lot of chances again which was nice. I’m very pleased with a bogey-free round. I’m keen for the weekend. I think it’s going to be a good challenge for me. I haven’t been in contention in a while so it’s nice to be in the mix again,” he said.
Scores
131 - Estiaan Conradie 64 67
132 - Adam Breen 65 67
132 - Yurav Premlall 67 65
133 - Kyle De Beer 66 67
133 - Altin van der Merwe 66 67, JC Ritchie 66 67, Samuel Simpson 66 67
134 - Gabriel Morgan 63 71
134 - Charl Barnard 67 67
135 - Matt Millar 65 70
135 - Rhys West 70 65, Keegan Mclachlan 72 63, Simon du Plooy 69 66
136 - Malan Potgieter 65 71
136 - Jaco Van Zyl 70 66, Malcolm Mitchell 68 68, Nikhil Rama 70 66, Kyle Barker 71 65, Lyle Rowe 65 71, Jason Roets 70 66, Ryan van der Klis 68 68
137 - Graham van der Merwe 68 69
137 - Tyran Snyders 68 69, Jean-Paul Strydom 68 69, Pierre Pellegrin 69 68, Astin Arthur 68 69, Luke Jerling 69 68, Stals Swart 66 71, Jordan Burnand 69 68, Franklin Manchest 71 66
138 - Martin Leon 68 70
138 - Gerhard Pepler 73 65, Jacques Blaauw 67 71, Daniel van Tonder 67 71, Agustin Errazuriz 69 69, Rowan Lester 70 68, Eric Wowor 68 70, Rhys Enoch 70 68, Neil Schietekat 70 68, Oliver Goldhill 70 68
139 - Joe Long 68 71
139 - Callum Bruce 70 69, JJ Senekal 70 69, Benjamin Follett-Smith 70 69, Benjamin Kedochim 69 70, Daniel Cronje 70 69, Ruan Korb 70 69, Rigardt Albertse 71 68, Albert Venter 65 74, Travis Ladner 70 69, Hennie O'Kennedy 70 69, Keagan Thomas 70 69, Quintin Wilsnach 72 67, Anthony Michael 71 68
Missed the cut
140 - Matthew Spacey 69 71
140 - Allen John 69 71, Martin Vorster 72 68, Wynand Dingle 69 71, Hayden Griffiths 71 69, Makhetha Mazibuko 69 71, Dylan Mostert 71 69, Travis Procter 70 70, Ivan Verster 69 71, Dillon Germshuys 69 71, Peter Karmis 72 68
141 - Jacquin Hess 72 69
141 - Vuyisani Makama 72 69, Keenan Davidse 71 70, MJ Viljoen 70 71, Warwick Purchase 70 71, Jacques P de Villiers 68 73, Tristan Leonard 70 71, Tyrone Ryan 71 70, Shaydon Johnson 70 71, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 70 71, Ricky Hendler 72 69, Ryan Van Velzen 69 72, Cole Stevens 75 66
142 - Tumelo Molloyi 71 71
142 - Benjamin Van Wyk 72 70, Jacques Kruyswijk 69 73, Carlos Bustos 70 72, Dian Kruger 74 68, Morris Schiefner 73 69, Trevor Fisher Jnr 69 73, Jacques Van der Merwe 73 69, Stuart Krog 71 71, Ockie Strydom 70 72, Toto Thimba Jnr 72 70, Thabiso Ngcobo 75 67, Otto Van Buynder 73 69, Brandon Pieters 72 70
143 - Thomas Spreadborough 68 75
143 - Tomas Gana 67 76, Louis Albertse 72 71, Njoroge Kibugu 70 73, Kian Rose 72 71, Stephen Ferreira 71 72, Jonathan Broomhead 71 72, Kieron van Wyk 70 73
144 - Keanu Pestana 73 71
144 - Tristen Strydom 74 70, Haydn Porteous 68 76, James Mack 72 72, Gustavo Silva 74 70
145 - Thanda Mavundla 71 74
145 - Herman Loubser 73 72, Liam Grehan 74 71, Karabo Mokoena 71 74, Lwazi Gqira 75 70, Jaden Deltel 71 74, Rupert Kaminski 73 72, Nyasha Muyambo 71 74
146 - Joe Sullivan 73 73
147 - Ruan de Smidt 74 73
147 - Ethan Smith 72 75, Carter Rowe 73 74, Combrinck Smit 74 73
148 - Robson Chinhoi 73 75
148 - Mitch Phigeland 76 72, Sentanio Minnie 73 75
149 - Dayne Moore 77 72
149 - Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 75 74
150 - Steven Le Roux 80 70
151 - Brandon-Jude Rennie 76 75
152 - James Wiltshire 71 81
152 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 77 75
153 - Lyle Pedro 80 73
155 - Pieter Coetzee 81 74
157 - Marcus Sandile Taylor 75 82
161 - Jordan Duminy 79 82
WDN - Keelan Africa 79 WDN
WDN - Conner Mackenzie 77 WDN, Heinrich Bruiners 75 WDN, Jaco Prinsloo 71 WDN, Martin Rohwer 69 WDN, Louis de Jager RTD RTD, Pierre Viallaneix 73 DSQ
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