Calitz early leader in Glacier SA Amateur qualifying
DURBAN (3 March 2008) – Free Stater Louis Calitz holds the clubhouse lead in Monday’s final round of qualifying for the Glacier SA Amateur Golf Championship at Royal Durban Golf Club.
The 22-year-old signed for a 69 in the morning to lead on three under par 141, one stroke clear of first round leader Adrian Ford and Naldo Claassen. Ford added to his 67 with a 75 while Claassen posted a second successive 71.
Calvin Coelho (pictured on the right) and Derik Ferreira both finished the morning on 143.
Calitz started the day on level par and five shots adrift of Ford’s overnight lead. But despite a strong north easterly wind, the Bloemfontein golfer managed to produce a round of four birdies and one bogey for a clubhouse lead that could well stand for the rest of the day.
“My short game was very good and I didn’t miss many fairways, which is the key on this course,” said Calitz, who for the past two years has been the Free State number one but is considering a move to Central Gauteng.
Ford found his game to be in complete contrast with his first round 67. The Ernie Els Foundation member struggled with a golf course playing vastly different with the change of wind.
“I didn’t hit the ball that well and putted badly. I really just scrambled and tried to hang in there because it was a different course today,” he said.
The afternoon field includes South African number one Dylan Frittelli, SA Stroke Play champion Jacques Blaauw, and 2006 SA Amateur champion Nigel Edwards from Wales.
The top 64 players at the end of the day will qualify for the main tournament, which tees off on Tuesday.