Dubuisson the Victor in tough Pearl Valley conditions

Victor DubuissonPAARL (6 February 2008) – At just 17-years-old, Victor Dubuisson already looks to have a huge future in the game of golf. The eccentric French teenager is the halfway leader in the SA Amateur Stroke Play at Pearl Valley Golf Estates following a second round one-over par 73 on Wednesday.

The Cannes-based player lies on a two-round total of three-under-par 141, two strokes ahead of South African teenager Steven Ferreira, who shot the round of the day, a three-under-par 69, in punishing conditions.

“I drove the ball really well,” said the 18-year-old Ferreira, who is the brother of Sunshine Tour professional Tyrone. “I didn’t miss too many fairways and I also putted pretty well.”

Two shots back on one-over-par 145 are first round leader Rae Mackie, Stephen Swanepoel and Bryn Flanagan.

Mackie battled to rediscover his first round form, following up Tuesday’s round of 67 with a six-over-par 78.

The Centurion-based golfer turned in 37 and came back in 41. “I lost a bit of concentration and made two silly double bogeys when I was in good position to make par,” Mackie said in reference to his back nine.

Swanepoel held the clubhouse lead for a large part of the afternoon with a morning score of two-over-par 74. The Strand golfer shot a superb one-under-par 71 in the first round.

The Stellenbosch resident went out in level par 36 and back in two-over par 38. “I really enjoyed it out there,” said Swanepoel, who rushed off to Stellenbosch University shortly after his round to attend lectures. “With the tee boxes brought forward I’ve just been hitting three woods and two irons, which is great.”

Swanepoel, who has represented South Africa at both junior and Under-21 level, said he would look to be more attacking in the final two rounds.

“I’ll keep hitting fairways and greens, but at the same time I’m going to have to attack a lot more pins if I want to do well.”

Flanagan, from Krugersdorp Golf Club, made just one birdie in an otherwise steady two-over-par 74 to go with his first round 71.

One shot further back are a group of four players in Bolander Johan Du Buisson, Gauteng North’s Leon Brink-Knoll, Frenchman Edourd Dubois and Parow Golf Club’s Le Riche Ehlers.

Du Buisson would have been disappointed with his 75 after a very good 71 on day one.

Brink-Knoll signed for a 76 to add to his opening round 70, Dubois added a 75 to his 71 and Ehlers, after a promising 69, stumbled in round two with a 77.

The cut fell at 159.

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