German Nick Bachem is the new leading man on South African soil. With a returned card of 66 (-6), the 23-year-old is now at -13 after making 8 birdies and 2 bogeys on the Steyn City course: “My chipping and my putting have been incredible since the first two rounds. Yesterday (THURSDAY), I hit the ball very badly, I don’t remember hitting my irons so badly, but I made all my pitches, I got in all my putts within four or five meters of the hole. Today I felt like I was playing a lot better but I didn’t make all my putts and then on the last nine holes they came in so that was pretty cool. »
Behind him, a Frenchman is in 2nd position. This is Romain Langasque, author of the best card of the day at 64 (-8). The winner of the Wales Open 2020, had a solid performance with 2 eagles on hole 3 and 16, 5 birdies and a bogey: “It was a good round, 64 today, eight under par. Yesterday I was even better in the long game, but I couldn’t make a putt. Today the putting was very solid, which made a big difference. This is a course where there are a lot of birdie opportunities. There are a few par 5s which are played short, the fairways are quite wide and for me the most important thing is that the greens are very good and soft so you can be really attacking. »
He shares the second position with the Finn Sami Välimäki. Also a winner in 2020 at the Oman Open, the 24-year-old player made 8 birdies and a bogey.
In 4th position, we can count Julien Brun at -11. The Habs had a flawless run with an eagle on 10 and 4 birdies. He is accompanied by the Finnish Kalle Samooja, the Malaysian Gavin Green, the German Marcel Schneider and the locals Martin Vorster, leader in the first round and Ockie Strydom who, like Romain Langasque, also returned a card of 64 (-8).
Above the top 10
On the French side, Julien Guerrier is 21st at -8. He is followed two strokes behind by Clément Sordet and Robin Sciot-Siegrist 45th at -6. Matthieu Pavon is 63rd at -5 alongside South African defending champion Shaun Norris.
Jeong weon Ko and David Ravetto miss the cut in 91st position at -3. Joël Stalter, 137th at +2 and Alexander Levy, 142nd at +3 are experiencing the same fate as their compatriots.
