Strydom takes control at Umhlali
Ekurhuleni’s Tristen Strydom replaced first round leader Altin van der Merwe in pole position at the Nomads SA Boys U-19 Championship in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old from Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate took advantage of the early morning breeze at Umhlali Country Club to navigate his way to a three-under-par 68 and lunged to the top of the leaderboard on three under 139.
Strydom had a birdie and bogey a piece on the front nine. He birdied the 11th, and cancelled a bogey at the 13th with a birdie at the next hole before reeling in two more birdies at the 16th and 17th for his 68.
The 36-hole leader will take a one shot edge on Luca Filippi into the third round after the Western Province junior returned a second successive 70.
Local favourite Matt Saulez from Gowrie Farm Golf Club finished alone in third on 141 after carding a one under 70.
Meanwhile reigning Nomads SA Boys U-15 champion, Herman Loubser, moved closer to the lead.
The Boland golfer carded a 69 and shares fourth spot with Gauteng’s Keelan van Wyk, who shot a 68.
The country’s number three ranked junior, Hennie du Plessis, also moved into contention. The Limpopo golfer lurks at 143 after following an opening 72 with an even-par 71.
Strydom is six shots clear of Jovan Rebula, the country’s top ranked junior, seven ahead of the overnight leader and eight shots clear of number two ranked Kyle McClatchie from Ekurhuleni, who slipped to joint 13th after a second round 75.
Rebula shaved one shot off his first round 73 to finish in 10th on 145, while Van der Merwe slipped to a tie for 11th after signing for a 77.
SECOND ROUND SCORES (top 20)
139 – Tristen Strydom (71, 68)
140 – Luca Filippi (70, 70)
141 – Matt Saulez (71, 70)
142 – Keelan van Wyk (74, 68), Herman Loubser (73, 69)
143 – Hendrik du Plessis (72, 71)
144 – Dylan Mostert (72, 72), Luke Trocado (72, 72), Allan Lones (72, 72)
145 – Jovan Rebula (73, 72)
146 – Albert Venter (75, 71), Altin van der Merwe (69, 77)
147 – Luke Mayo (75, 72), Karabo Mokoena (75, 72), Rosswell Sinclair (75, 72), Kyle McClatchie (72, 75)
148 – David Meyers (75, 73), Hayden Garcia (72, 76), Michael Pfeifer (GER) (70, 78)
149 – Rupert Kaminski (76, 73), Gregory Mckay (74, 75)