JOHANNESBURG, 14 November 2015 – Modderfontein ’s Marco Steyn produced a flawless nine-under-par 63 to open up a yawning gap on the field in the second round of the Central Gauteng Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club on Saturday.
Steyn shared the first round lead with Southern Cape’s Johannes Frahs after the pair opened with a pair of five under 67s at the East Course.
Playing in the afternoon field, the 18-year-old Steyn started three shots behind Cameron Moralee from Southern Cape, who set the early target at eight under with an impressive 64.
He burst from the blocks with a three-birdie start to join the KeNako Academy player at the top, but another three-birdie flurry from the seventh took Steyn to the turn at 11 under.
Further gains at 10, 14 and 18 moved the TuksGolf Academies player to 14-under-par 130.
He will start the third round six strokes clear of Moralee and Gauteng North’s Albert Venter, who returned a 68.
Gauteng North’s Ruan Conradie opened with an eagle at the par-five first and mixed four bogeys with eight birdies for a 65 to move to fourth on seven under alongside Dylan Mostert from Ekurhuleni, who returned a 66.
Joint overnight leader Frahs from Plettenburg Bay carded a 75 to finish two under and shares 12th spot with James du Preez from Gauteng North.
Steyn was predictably pleased that his bogey-free production also marked his career low score.
“I watched the live scoring in the morning and I saw some guys were hitting low scores,” he said.
“When I got to the course, the guys who came off said the pins were not as brutal as in the first round and that put me in a good frame of mind. When I opened with three birdies in a row, I knew I could for a low number because I’m striking the ball well and my accuracy is very good at the moment.”
The Dimension Data Junior Open champion is hunting his second Open Amateur victory at the same course he broke through in the ProShop Northern Amateur last year.
“Obviously my goal this year has been to win another Open amateur event, and the East Course suits my game,” he said.
“I think it would be great to win this at the same course where I won last year and this championship is also a great warm-up for the last Sunshine Tour junior event, the Joburg Junior Open, next month. “There are still two rounds to go, though. I’ll be sleeping on a six stroke lead, but that advantage could be gone in a heartbeat if someone else runs hot in the third or final round.”
A total of 70 players made the cut at 64 and ties, set at five over 149.
Click HERE to view the live scoring at www.cggu.co.za
PHOTO – Ruan Conradie; credit Catherine Kotze / SASPA