From Challenge Tour
Wilco Nienaber fired a sensational second round of 60 on Friday to set a new course record and move into a share of the lead alongside Dane Nicolai Kristensen heading into the weekend of the Challenge Tour’s Abu Dhabi Challenge.
Nienaber got off to a hot start at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club with a birdie on the second before making four on the bounce between holes four and seven to finish his front nine in 30 strokes. He would match that effort on the back with birdies at 11, 13, and each of his final three holes to move to 13-under-par alongside Kristensen.
“Today was great”, said Nienaber. “It felt pretty straightforward, I played well and I made putts. I did miss a few ones as well, but I’m very happy with the ones I did make.
Nienaber was delighted to set a new course record at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, and at one point had his sights set on a round of 59 before narrowly missing a long eagle putt on the 18th.
“59 was on my mind”, he said. “When I went five under quite early, I thought this can be quite low today, but then I made a few pars around the turn and thought 59 is kind of out of it.
“For some reason, when I made birdie on 16, I realised it’s a par 70 and a birdie-eagle finish gets me 59.
“If I’d clicked it a little earlier, I don’t know if it was going to be very different, so I’m very happy with my 10-under.”
Englishman John Parry, Scot Euan Walker and South African Oliver Bekker share third place at 12-under-par, while Justin Walters was in a three-way share of sixth on 11-under.
Deon Germishuys, JJ Senekal and Dylan Mostert were all on eight-under in a share of 18th, while Albert Venter and Bryce Easton missed the cut.
