Russell six shots clear

Aaron Russell, over night leader, recorded a second round 73, one over par, which gave him a 36 hole total of 143, one under par, and a six shot lead after all the morning scores were returned in the 72 hole South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship.

Playing for the second consecutive day in strong winds, the 23 year old Westlake Golf Club member played superb golf. He started on the 10th and turned 33, three under par, which included three birdies. His back nine was a bit more temperamental. He had a birdie on hole 2 (his 11th) to go four under. However a triple on the 4th (his 13th), a par 3, followed by three consecutive bogies took him to two over par. A birdie on hole 8, his penultimate hole, and regulation golf on hole 9, the most difficult hole on the golf course, gave him a back nine of 40.

“The way the wind was blowing this morning, if someone had told me you can have a 73, I would have taken it. It was a more difficult wind today, yesterday it was more consistent from the south east, today it was swirling,” explained the well spoken championship leader.

Six shots back is another Western Province golfer, Le Riche Ehlers, from Parow Golf Club. He recorded a 78, six over par, for a 36 hole total of 149, seven over par.

Last year’s runner up, Leon Knoll of Gauteng North, recorded a 77 today, 8 shots off the pace.

Best round of the day went to North West Province player Taymen Erasmus. He recorded 70, two under, this despite having an upset stomach which required a one expedition to the toilet during his remarkable round considering the conditions. He went out in 35 and back in the same score carding four birdies and a double bogey in the process.

The afternoon field of 53 players are expected finish around 17h00 today.

South African Amateur Stroke Play
2nd Round: Morning Scores
Pearl Valley Golf Estates (Par 72; 36 holes 144)
143 – Aaron Russell 70 73
149 – Le Riche Ehlers 71 78
151 – Leon Knoll 74 77
152 – Jacques van Tonder 79 73
153 – Jake Redman 74 79
155 – Mark Fensham 76 79
156 – Taymen Erasmus 86 70 Coenie Stoop 76 80 Nicol van Wyk 77 79
157 – Drikus van der Walt 79 78
158 – Coenie Bester 78 80 Justin Turner 79 79 Dean O’Riley 84 74
159 – Steve Swanepoel 80 79 Ryan Strauss 78 81 Hendrik van den Berg 78 81
160 – Dawie van Wyk 81 79
161 – Divan du Piesanie 81 80 Trevor Mahoney 85 76
162 – Steven Williams 82 80 Jared Harvey 81 81 David Mcminn 79 83 Rowan du Preez 83 79
163 – Reghard Neethling 85 78 Ruan de Smidt 79 84
164 – Pieter Moolman 83 81 Dean Burmester 76 88 Nicholas Mitchell 88 76
166 – Dimitri Razos 84 82 Daniel Hammond 83 83 Rae Mackie 85 81
167 – Chris Hurter 85 82 Ramon Rahme 83 84
168 – TJ Bekker 80 88 Mikhail Tewary 85 83
169 – Tyrone Ryan 84 85 Donovan Pearse 87 82
170 – Stefan Rall 91 79 Christiaan Jonck 84 86
172 – Daniel Barrett 81 91
174 – JB Dill 85 89
176 – Stafie Barnard 86 90
177 – Kenny Goosen 83 94 Frikkie Cronje 85 92
178 – Victor Doka 92 86
179 – Mark Swanepoel 92 87

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