East Rand’s Vaughn van Deventer shrugged off pain from a spider bite and soldiered to a four-under-par 68 in round two of the Betway Big Easy Tour’s third tournament, taking a one-shot lead on six-under in the process.
Bitten by a spider in Ballito a few days before this event, the State Mines Country Club player was reluctant to tee it up at Glenvista Country Club this week but decided – at the last minute – to enter his name for the event. A measured two-under 70 on day one gave him confidence and on Tuesday, his decision to play this week was vindicated.
“So, I got bitten by a spider sometime last week,” started Van Deventer, “and I was thinking of withdrawing from this week. What’s crazy is that I didn’t practice much last week. So, I just tried to take it as it came; played every shot the best I could and it worked today.”
Van Deventer started with a birdie on one but that gain was soon taken, as he dropped on the second. He recovered swiftly, however, and birdied the third, fifth and seventh holes for a front nine 33. Coming home and after a par on 10, Van Deventer took full advantage of the par-five 11th, birdieing that hole to give himself a chance in the final seven holes of his round.
His joy was short-lived, though, as he gave away shots on both par-threes – the 13th and 15th. Once again, Van Deventer showed some big-match temperament as he birdied the 16th and 17th holes to seal a round of 68.
“I didn’t know my score while I was playing and to shoot 68 was pretty cool,” Van Deventer said. “It was a bit more challenging yesterday but the wind kind of died down today. It was actually a very good weather to play good golf and I capitalised on the good weather.”
He knows he will have to replicate his strong second-round showing in the final round where he will be in the last group out. He will be joined by rising star Leon Vorster and veteran Ulrich van den Berg in the group. Both players are one shot off the pace and both will know that a single shot lead can always be overturned.
A shot further lies Warwick Purchase, Englishman Joe Knox, Zimbabwe’s David Amm and member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, Nikhil Rama. Amm was particularly impressive on day two and his seven-under 65 catapulted him into contention for this week’s title.
Scores
138 - Vaughn van Deventer 70 68
139 - Leon Vorster 69 70, Ulrich van den Berg 70 69
140 - Joe Knox 68 72, Warwick Purchase 70 70, David Amm 75 65, Nikhil Rama 73 67
141 - Regan Steyn 71 70, Dayne Moore 68 73, Keenan Davidse 67 74
142 - Kyle Lucas 71 71, Christian Kriek 68 74, Reece Mc Kain 69 73, Christopher Long 70 72, Slade Pickering 68 74, Luke Trocado 73 69, Jaden Deltel 69 73, Karabo Mokoena 72 70
143 - Keelan Africa 72 71, Stals Swart 69 74, Eric Wowor 75 68
144 - Xander Basson 72 72, Andrew Williamson 72 72, Ruan de Smidt 72 72, Kieron van Wyk 72 72, Sentanio Minnie 74 70, Andre Van Dyk 74 70, Jacquin Hess 71 73, Henning du Plooy 69 75, Samuel Simpson 71 73, Lyle Pedro 74 70
Missed the cut
145 - Leon Visser 74 71, Marcel Steyn Scholtz 74 71, Adriel Poonan 71 74, Irvin Mazibuko 74 71, Jastice Mashego 74 71, Jordan Duminy 73 72
146 - Ryan Tipping 72 74, Otto Van Buynder 72 74, Kayle Wykes 75 71, Jonathan Waschefort 72 74
147 - Paul Boshoff 77 70, Makhetha Mazibuko 73 74, Simon du Plooy 74 73, Philip Geerts 74 73
148 - Andre De Decker 73 75, Keelan van Wyk 73 75, Richard Joubert 75 73, Tyron Davidowitz 75 73, Matthew Rushton 76 72
149 - Jabulane Mabilane 73 76
150 - Hayden Garcia 76 74, Keanu Pestana 69 81, Steven Le Roux 77 73, Bradford Vaughan 76 74, Andrew McLardy 75 75, Johan Theron 79 71, Eugene Du Plessis 73 77, Louis Liebenberg 77 73
151 - Drikus Joubert 76 75, Coert Groenewald 70 81, Shaahid Mahmed 78 73, Erhard Lambrechts 76 75
152 - Letsoso Letsai 74 78, Slenda Sithebe 78 74
153 - Francois Van der Walt 79 74, Mike Maile 75 78, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 77 76, Teboho Sefatsa 77 76, Dehan Joubert 81 72
154 - Kyle Kistensamy 77 77, Lincon Denzy Cele 74 80, Tumelo Molloyi 76 78, Shalan Govender 78 76, Mutahi Kibugu 77 77, Allister de Kock 76 78, Sabelo Xolani Majola 77 77, Richard Kruger 77 77
155 - Shaydon Johnson 76 79, Mohammad Rauf Mandhu 73 82, Harry Konig 78 77, Lwazi Gqira 77 78, Christiaan Pretorius 78 77, Enzo Barbaglia 76 79
156 - James Kamte 75 81, Jarryd Govender 79 77, Cornel Muller 74 82, Nicholaus Frade 78 78, Carlos Losper 79 77, Aneurin Gounden 81 75
157 - Gerard du Plooy 81 76, Eben Spangenberg 83 74, Luke Mayo 77 80
158 - Kian Coetzer 75 83, Khanya Mkhize 79 79, Trevor Mahoney 77 81, Michael Kok 78 80
159 - Terence Boardman 79 80, John Bele 80 79, Jason Froneman 82 77
160 - Mark Maart 78 82
161 - Jonathan Williams 87 74, Boeta Nasie 83 78
162 - Kael Strydom 82 80
165 - Llewellyn Leibrandt 82 83
168 - Ricco Motsa 83 85
172 - David Masole 85 87
WDN - Gerhard Trytsman 78 WDN, Siyanda Mwandla 84 WDN, Njoroge Kibugu 88 WDN, Therion Nel 77 WDN, Sibusiso Magagula 91 WDN, Jacob Oakley RTD RTD, Brandon Moodley RTD RTD, Brandon-Jude Rennie 83 DSQ
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