Leon Vorster chipped in for eagle twice on Tuesday on his way to a six-under-par 66 in the second round of the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour’s Chase to the Sunshine Tour #32 at Services Golf Club and a share of the lead ahead of the final round.
In fact, he made eagle on three of the par-fives, and, together with two birdies and two bogeys, that moved him to eight-under for the 54-hole tournament. He and first-round leader Herman Loubser topped the leaderboard, a shot ahead of Wayne Stroebel who was on seven-under after his second-round of five-under 67. Ryan Tipping carded a 70 to move to six-under and a share of fourth with amateur Slade Pickering who signed for a 71.
“I was just hitting it straight today,” said Vorster, “so the chip-in eagles came because I was able to get the ball close to the green. The first one came on the second hole after I had made bogey from the middle of the fairway, so that was very pleasing. The other chip-in was on 18, and it was a great way to sign off on the round.
“The eagle on the 12th required a putt, but I’ll take it,” he laughed. “It was a bit frustrating missing out on the other par-five, the ninth. I don’t know why I missed there, but I can’t be unhappy with a 66.
“The bogeys both came from the middle of the fairway, which was a bit of a puzzle. On one, I just hit a bad chip, and on 10, I had a three-putt. Those are things I will need to eliminate in the final round if I want to push for a win.”
Loubser will give him a run for his money after his second round of three-under 69. He started slowly, making bogey on three, but he got back to even for his round with a birdie on nine. He made birdies on 13, 17 and 18, and that momentum will make him a tough customer in the final round.
For Vorster, it will be a case of putting the good fortune that brought him three eagles in the second round out of his mind in the final round. “I will be doing more of the same tomorrow,” he said. “I was straight, and I was putting well, so those are good signs.”
