Zander Lombard’s superb run of form continued on Friday through the wind and rain at Fancourt as he carded a six-under-par 66 to move into a share of third at the halfway stage of the Dimension Data Pro-Am.
Lombard dropped just a single shot as he finished the trying day on a total of eight-under-par, just two shots off the lead which was held by David Ravetto of France at 10-under after he, too, carded a 66 on the Outeniqua layout at Fancourt. Players play a round on each of Outeniqua, Montagu and The Links ahead of the cut and the final round on Montagu.
“It was super tough out there,” said Lombard. “I think the gusts were up to 70km/h at least and it was absolutely pouring down. The rain sort of came and went but when it came, all of it was coming. It was brutal, and all-in-all in these conditions I’m very happy with my score. I’m happy with my game, the confidence is up, I’ve got no weaknesses so hopefully I can carry it into the weekend,” said Lombard.
Ravetto used every bit of the good fortune the draw allowed him in playing the more forgiving Outeniqua course on an incredibly challenging day as he climbed to 10-under-par overall. “It was a good day under the conditions. I’m really happy. I had a good draw playing Outeniqua but I still played really solid golf. I made six birdies and an eagle so it was a really nice round,” he said.
His nearest challenger is South Africa’s Louis Albertse on nine under following a 66 of his own on the Outeniqua.
The weather and the deluge of rain that fell throughout the day made for a long round for some in the field, especially those who had to also contend with the challenging Links course in their second round as part of the tournament’s format to rotate between Fancourt’s three courses.
Bryce Easton, the leader by two after the first round, was one of those to suffer as he signed for an 80 on the Links to drop to two-under-par overall.
Defending champion Oliver Bekker suffered a similar score and fate on the Links, ending the day on two-over for the tournament.
Lombard has been in sublime form this year which has carried him to fifth on the Race to Dubai Rankings and a career-high of 100 on the Official World Golf Rankings. Since last year’s Joburg Open, Lombard has finished in the top 16 in seven of his last eight tournaments.
