Andre van Zyl weaved together a brilliant six-under-par 66 on day two of the Betway Big Easy Tour’s ninth event, getting his overall total to 10-under while pulling a shot clear of the field at Krugersdorp Golf Club.
Wednesday’s second round produced some exciting golf, with players jostling for positions ahead of Thursday’s final round. Among those players was Van Zyl, who seemed to have found something he liked around this parkland layout.
Following a solid start of four-under 68, Van Zyl showed glimpses of the brilliant player he is on Wednesday, rolling in putts as if it were nothing. He made a total of nine birdies, a double-bogey and a drop en route to his 66.
“I was very good tee to green,” said Van Zyl. “I just made two stupid errors on eight and nine (his 17th and final holes of the round). On eight I hit a three-wood where I should have hit an iron off that tee. It was a good swing but I just hit it through the fairway and behind some trees. Then I chipped out and the ball spun behind the greens and I three-putted for the double.
“So, I lost a bit of concentration on the last two holes. Other than that, I hit the ball extremely well; found many fairways and I hit them very close. I putted well for a change. A lot of positives from the round and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Van Zyl is fully aware of the chasing pack, led by the in-form Jacques van der Merwe whose 68 in round two catapulted him to second on the leaderboard on a tournament total of nine-under.
“I like the course, it suits my eye,” Van Zyl noted. “I’ve been hitting the ball well but just can’t score, so for a change, things are going my way. Golf is coming easy to me at the moment so I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It’s going to be a challenge, but I can’t wait.”
With two victories already this term, Van der Merwe is feeling quite confident of mounting a serious challenge on Thursday.
“I’m definitely hoping for my third win this year,” declared Van der Merwe. “I’m feeling very confident this week, so, good luck to the other guys as well.”
This ninth event of the season is the last tournament of the year before the Christmas break.
