Davidse leads by three ahead of the final round

Keenan Davidse has a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the Betway Big Easy Tour event at Modderfontein Golf Club on Thursday. Sunshine Tour

Sunshine Tour campaigner, Keenan Davidse, produced another round of 67 during the second round of the Betway Big Easy Tour event at Modderfontein Golf Club and will take a three-shot lead into the final round.

On a tournament total of 10-under-par, Davidse assumed the top spot on the leaderboard as overnight leader, Yurav Premlal, faltered to a one-under 71 for a total of seven-under. Barring the bogeys he made on the third, sixth and 18th holes, the Stellenbosch Golf Club member had a solid round on day two on Wednesday.

In what proved to be an eventful round on a tricky Modderfontein layout, Davidse was able to make eight birdies on the day, signifying his ability to weave together a really low score on his day. Despite playing some scintillating golf this week, Davidse refuses to get carried away, especially at the back of the break he took before teeing up in this event.

“The game still feels rusty,” he said, “but I’m not complaining. I was hitting it decently but not the way I know I can hit it. I’m enjoying myself out here though and I don’t want to put pressure on myself. Let’s take it one shot at a time and see where we are tomorrow.”

He is well justified in refusing to get carried away. The chase, led by Premlal, will be on in the final round and any slip in concentration can prove very costly very quickly. So, even though he lamented his error-prone second round, Premlal has all the qualities to give Davidse a run for his money. Besides, other very capable players such as Tyron Davidowitz (5-under-par and third on the leaderboard) are lurking dangerously as the final round approaches.

“I made a lot of mistakes today,” admitted Premlal who plays out of Glendower Golf Club, the former home of the Investec South African Open Championship. “I started off with a six on a par-five, which is never good. Two mistakes on the front nine and I missed a couple of decent putts.

“But there are a few things I have already figured out after that round, which I need to get better at going into tomorrow and the rest of the season. I know where the shots were lost, at least, and I’ll try to put together a good one tomorrow.”

Andrew Williamson, Eric Wowor, Vaughn van Deventer, Francois Van der Walt and Jacquin Hess tied fourth on four-under while Paul Boshoff, Warwick Purchase and Marcel Steyn Scholtz make up the top ten leading players on three-under-par.

Scores

134 - Keenan Davidse 67 67

137 - Yurav Premlall 66 71

139 - Tyron Davidowitz 71 68

140 - Andrew Williamson 71 69, Francois Van der Walt 67 73, Vaughn van Deventer 70 70, Eric Wowor 67 73, Jacquin Hess 69 71

141 - Paul Boshoff 74 67, Marcel Steyn Scholtz 73 68, Warwick Purchase 72 69

142 - Stals Swart 74 68

143 - Nikhil Rama 72 71, Makhetha Mazibuko 69 74, Philip Geerts 73 70, James Kamte 73 70, Gerard du Plooy 74 69, Ryan Tipping 71 72

144 - Samuel Simpson 73 71, Thanda Mavundla 69 75, Werner Deyzel 73 71, Andre De Decker 70 74, Eugene Du Plessis 73 71

145 - Kayle Wykes 70 75, Andrew McLardy 77 68, Letsoso Letsai 74 71, Michael Kok 71 74, Thabiso Ngcobo 72 73, Slenda Sithebe 73 72, Steven le Roux 71 74, Gerhard Trytsman 77 68, Leon Vorster 76 69, Karabo Mokoena 73 72