He was down in a share of seventh after the second round on Friday, but Pieter Moolman’s run of seven-successive birdies around the turn in the second round of the SDC Open helped him to eight-under-par for the tournament.
After making a birdie on the first hole, and a bogey on the fifth, Moolman made four birdies in a row from the sixth, and then three more immediately after the turn. He rounded things off with a birdie on the closing 18th hole and was in a share of seventh, three strokes off the lead.
Maxence Giboudot of France will take a one-stroke lead into the weekend after recording a joint low-round-of-the-week eight-under-par 64 at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa. The Frenchman carded seven birdies, an eagle and a solitary bogey to reach 11-under-par for the week, and lead by one from 2024 SDC Open champion Rhys Enoch from Wales, overnight leader Martin Vorster from South Africa and Spaniard Joel Moscatel.
German Jannik de Bruyn posted a seven-under-par 65 to move into a share of fifth alongside Jaco Ahlers on nine-under-par, with five players one shot further back in seventh, including Moolman, Herman Loubser and MJ Viljoen from South Africa, German Hurly Long and Spaniard Pablo Ereno.
Robin Williams, Luke Brown, Jordan Burnand, Graham van der Merwe and Kyle Barker were among nine players in a share of 12th on seven-under-par.
Giboudot is chasing a strong campaign on the HotelPlanner Tour as he looks to secure promotion to the DP World Tour at the end of the season, following in the footsteps of fellow Frenchmen Martin Couvra and Oihan Guillamoundeguy.
“They make me want to get up there with them,” he said. “I just need to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Enoch, meanwhile, is well placed to attempt a rare title defence and could become the first player to win the SDC Open twice.
“I have a lot of memories of my win here,” he said. “Every hole and every pin position I’ve already seen. It brings back really good emotions and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in this weekend.”
Vorster also reflected positively on his position near the top of the leaderboard.
“My goal this week hasn’t been about scores at all,” he said. “It’s been about executing routines and playing the course smartly. It’s nice to be in contention and I’m really excited for the weekend.”
