DeChambeau, Torque GC top South Africa leaderboards through two rounds with Southern Guards lurking

The home favorite Southern Guards GC will enter the weekend in position to sweep both trophies in LIV Golf’s first visit to South Africa, but a crowded leaderboard is equally determined to deny their storybook result.

The Southern Guards are second on the team leaderboard through two rounds at LIV Golf South Africa, two shots behind Torque GC. Meanwhile, the club’s best player through 36 holes, Branden Grace, is tied for second individually, two shots behind leader Bryson DeChambeau.

DeChambeau, at 14-under after his 6-under 65 Friday and Grace, who shot 66 to move to-12 under, will play in the final group Saturday for the second consecutive day along with Fireballs GC’s David Puig (-12).

The Crushers GC captain opened his round by holing his second shot from at the par-4 first for eagle, then followed with a 31-foot birdie putt at the second. He made four birdies along with a bogey in his next nine holes before suffering a double bogey at the par-4 12th that gave his chasers a sense of relief.

He birdied two of his final three holes to take the solo lead.

“Felt like it could’ve been a 9-, 10-under round today the way it started,” said DeChambeau, seeking to win for the second consecutive week after claiming Aramco LIV Golf Singapore in a playoff last week.

Grace was a bogey-free 5-under through his first 14 holes, then bounced back from his only bogey by sticking it close with his tee shot at the par-3 17th, the Lion’s Den hole with the party atmosphere.

Grace’s teammate Dean Burmester contributed a 7-under 64, tying with Puig for low round of the day. Burmester is tied for fourth at 11-under with Jon Rahm, Abraham Ancer and Charles Howell III.

The Southern Guards are collectively at 34-under, while Joaquin Niemann and his Torque club moved to the top of the team leaderboard at 36 under after shooting 22-under on Friday, with Ancer, Niemann and Carlos Ortiz each shooting 6-under 65s. Sebastian Munoz added a 67.

Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC are in third place at 33-under, just a shot back of the Southern Guards, while DeChambeau’s Crushers are in fourth at 31-under.