Haydn Porteous and Slade Pickering will head into the final round of the Betway Big Easy Blue Label Invitational #2 tied for the lead as both players sit top of the leaderboard at five-under-par after the second round at Killarney Country Club.

Porteous, a former Joburg Open winner, backed up his even-par opening round with a round of five-under 65 on day two of this 54-hole event co-hosted with the Bushveld Tour. Pickering, on the other hand, produced a fine round of six-under 64 to total five-under-par, ensuring he and Porteous share a one-stroke lead going into the final round.

“It’s been a work in progress,” said Porteous of his resurgent form. “I’ve definitely started playing a little bit better in the last few weeks. I’ve felt like, for something like three weeks in a row, I’ve let a few shots slip, especially towards the back end of the rounds.

“This week, I’ve remained solid throughout the whole round. Today, I was able to make a few more putts than I’ve been able to. Tomorrow I’ll be in with a better shot than I’ve had for a while, and I’m looking forward to it.”

For Pickering, a winner last season, tomorrow’s final round will present an opportunity to claim yet another victory on this Sunshine Tour feeder circuit.

“Yesterday, I struggled a little bit,” noted Pickering. “I had a pretty bad three-hole stretch on 16, 17 and 18. I just lost a bit of concentration there. But then today, I made sure that I stayed focused throughout the round, and the putter came alive, and I holed a few putts coming down the stretch. But I’m glad to be in the saddle again and I’ll give them a run for their money.”

Englishmen Luke Joy and Joe Sullivan, along with Thabiso Ngcobo, a member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, lie just one shot off the pace and will relish their respective chances at glory this week.

The Betway Big Easy Blue Label Invitational is co-hosted by the Betway Big Easy Tour and the Blue Label Bushveld Tour and aims to provide members of both tours with further playing opportunities.