Mwandla motors into KZN lead

Six birdies on the back nine at Margate Country Club sent Siyanda Mwandla from Mount Edgecombe hurtling straight to the top of affairs in the 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifier for the KwaZulu-Natal Amateur Championship on Wednesday.

The Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation player opened with five-under-par 66 to lead Malcolm Mitchell from Kloof Country Club by one stroke.

The former SAGDB player got off to a birdie start and was two under after a second birdie at the par-five fifth, but a double bogey at the sixth plunged him back to level and a drop at nine saw him head down the back nine at one over.

However, Mwandla immediately birdied 10 and 11 to put himself back in the mix and notched further gains at 13, 15, 16 and 18 to complete a flawless loop in 30 strokes.

He will start the final seeding round for the match play stage two strokes clear of fellow Mount Edgecombe player Luke Mayo, Luca Filippi from the Western Province and Central Gauteng’s Tristan Brice.

KZN Stroke Play champion Darin de Smidt from Central Gauteng completes the top 10 on one under 69 alongside fellow Krugersdorp player Michael Pienaar, Port Shepstone’s Graham Fabricius, Jason Broomhead and Lisanthan Moodley from Durban Country Club and Central Gauteng’s Mohit Mediratta.

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Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.