Pedro soars to the top with 18 holes to play at Ruimsig

Sishen Golf Club’s Lyle Pedro backed up his opening 69 with a four-under 68 second-round to get to seven-under and take a one-shot lead in the Blue Label Invitational co-hosted by the Betway Big Easy Tour and the Bushveld Tour at Ruimsig Country Club.

The member of the Sunshine Tour’s Papwa Sewgolum Class cut a calm figure throughout a round in which he made only one bogey. Four straight pars at the start suggested a measured approach by Pedro, and he was soon rewarded with a birdie on the fifth. His joy didn’t last long, however, as he dropped a shot on the next hole.

A swift birdie on seven was his immediate response before he followed up with another on the ninth. Pedro’s birdie blitz continued as he made further gains on the 10th. Following another run of straight pars from 11 through 13, Pedro collected another birdie on 14 before closing off the same way he’d started his round, with a run of four pars for a round of 68.

“Today, my iron play was brilliant and I was able to convert some of the opportunities I created for myself,” said Pedro of his round. “At the start of the week, I told myself that I need to shoot at least 12-under this week and see where that lands me. The golf feels good, so I don’t have any reason to doubt myself and today, I felt good out there.

“This course is tougher than it looks, and it needs a lot of patience. I managed to stay in the moment today and I managed to convert some chances. It feels like I could have gone lower but I am not complaining about it; it’s part of golf.

“I just have to do the same things tomorrow; find fairways and greens and try to capitalise. There’s a lot of golf to be played, still, so I won’t get ahead of myself because the guys are good and it’s still wide open.”

Taking up the second spot on the leaderboard on a tournament total of six-under and just a shot off the pace is England’s Harry Konig. His second round of 70 was enough to leave him within touching distance of Pedro’s lead.

Following his first round 74, Kyle Kistensamy produced the lowest score of the round, a resounding 66 to get into a share of third with Daniel Cronje on four-under par 140.

The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els among other patrons.

Scores

137 - Lyle Pedro 69 68

138 - Harry Konig 68 70

140 - Kyle Kistensamy 74 66, Daniel Cronje 70 70

141 - Jacques Van der Merwe 72 69, Therion Nel 74 67, Johan Theron 73 68, Jan-hendrik Nieuwoudt 70 71

142 - Brandon Pieters 71 71, Louis Liebenberg 72 70, Michael Kok 72 70, Travis Ladner 72 70, Gary Kemp 71 71

143 - Jaden Deltel 73 70, Ruben Van Der Berg 74 69, Khanya Mkhize 71 72, Austin Cherichella 71 72, Haydn Porteous 70 73, Shaydon Johnson 72 71, Oliver Goldhill 73 70, Matthew Bennett 68 75

144 - Jungwi Lee 73 71, Adam Breen 74 70, Jason Froneman 74 70, Kael Strydom 75 69, Regan Steyn 72 72, Tiago Jorge Swart 72 72, Nicholas Lavarone 71 73

145 - David Waschefort 75 70, Nicko Venter 70 75, Darren Neyt 71 74, Joe Sullivan 75 70, Sean Howell 69 76, Bradley De Beer 74 71

Missed the cut

146 - Christiaan Pretorius 74 72, Leon van der Walt 74 72, Liam Ross 67 79, Travis Procter 75 71, Tristan Leonard 69 77, Ryan Tipping 70 76, Matthew Rushton 71 75, Andrew Williamson 76 70, LB Boshoff 69 77

147 - Pedro Cristovam 72 75, Joshua Koekemoer 70 77, Brandon Gildenhuys 75 72, Johnathan Ackerman 74 73, David Amm 71 76, Matt Millar 77 70, Reece Mc Kain 74 73, Nick Beart 72 75

148 - Gareth Willing 74 74, Neil Bothma 74 74

149 - Lwazi Gqira 75 74, Leon Visser 71 78, Siebert Wiid 75 74

150 - Warrick Moonieyan 76 74, Jabulane Mabilane 73 77, Tiger Adams 74 76, Eben Spangenberg 75 75, Wandre Snyman 77 73, Haydn Driver 77 73, Drikus Joubert 72 78

151 - Carl Mwale 74 77, Jonathan Waschefort 75 76, Alphius Kelapile 78 73

152 - Shaheed Patel 77 75, Carter Rowe 80 72

153 - Vaughn van Deventer 78 75, Dillon Germshuys 73 80, John-George Pringle 73 80, John Bele 77 76

154 - Basil Wright Jr 73 81, Steven Le Roux 73 81, Thapelo Maichotlo 77 77, Evance Vukeya 73 81, Wade Jacobs 74 80

155 - Dean Ralphs 81 74, Lance Ellerbeck 78 77, Richard Kruger 80 75

156 - Tawriq Abrahams 78 78, Irvin Mosate wa Mazibuko 81 75, Thabang Simon 76 80, Jeré Brits 78 78, Christopher Houdalakis 77 79

157 - Khaya Jika 77 80, Matt Saulez 77 80, Raymond Sudding 77 80, Jarryd Elliott 84 73, Philip Geerts 81 76, Johnty Darvall 77 80

158 - Henre Proctor 80 78, Sipho Bujela 77 81

161 - Bernard Jansen van Vuuren 77 84, Brandon-Jude Rennie 83 78

162 - Gevone Skopelitis 81 81, Hayden Garcia 85 77

163 - Josh Hirsch 77 86, Lihan Ludick 82 81

WDN - Keagan Crosbie WDN, Jarryd Govender WDN, Teboho Sefatsa WDN, Ricco Motsa 78 RTD, Matthew Dennis RTD, Shaunak Rama RTD, Kian Coetzer RTD, Mohammed Saloojee 85 DSQ