SA crew in command at MCB Indian Ocean Open
The seven-strong South African competing in the MCB Indian Ocean Amateur Golf Open in Mauritius made a dominant start with Paul Boshoff leading the way in Domaine De Bel-Ombre on Friday.
Ekurhuleni’s Boshoff opened with an even-par 72 at the Heritage Golf Club for a three stroke lead over Jade Buitendag from Southern Cape and Western Province’s Gerlou Roux.
The 19-year-old Serengeti golfer followed with a one under 73 to set the 36-hole target at one-over-par 145.
Boshoff is one shot clear of top ranked Indian amateur Veer Ahlawat, who fired a 69 to vault to second on 146.
South Africa’s Matthew Spacey lags four off the pace after posting 77 and 72, while fellow Central Gauteng golfer Jason Viljoen finished in fourth on 150 with rounds of 75 and 74.
Buitendag slipped to 152 after returning a second round 77.
Local favourite Ludovic Bax shaved six strokes off an opening 81 to move to sixth on 156 and leads by one from Gauteng North’s Jason Smith, who carded an 81.
Roux (83) and India’s Jaibir Singh (79) are tied for eighth at 158, while Aubrey Beckley’s 81 dropped the North West golfer to 10th on 159.
Azelia Meichtry from Switzerland fired a four under 68 to open up a yawning 12 shot gap on local favourite Nathalie Serret in the Women’s Competition.
Meichtry fired a 69 in the second round to stretch her advantage to 25 strokes after Serrett followed an opening 80 with an 82.
The top ranked Swiss Miss spent a few months at the KeNako Academy in George earlier this year, during which time she captured the Nomads WGWP Junior Championship in January and won the Girls Division at the Curro South Africa Juniors International on the Global Junior Golf Tour.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.