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Pennington - Even Doug McGuigan’s usually sharp wit was nowhere near as sharp as his iron play as he worked his way into a one-stroke lead of the Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament going into Friday’s final round at Selborne Park Golf Club.
On another overcast, wet day on the South Coast, McGuigan hit 18 greens on his way to a 66 and the lead on 10-under-par. And he’s only had one bogey in 36 holes.
“I’ve been very solid,” said McGuigan, who admitted he hasn’t worked as hard during a recent layoff as he’s done in the past.
“Maybe there’s something in that. I haven’t hit 18 greens for a long time, so I’m very happy.”
His experience will be key on the final day, as will that of one of his nearest rivals, Brazilian Adilson da Silva. Da Silva joins the younger duo of Jared Harvey and Charl Coetzee on nine under, and was just as impressive in his consistency.
“It was a good day. I just tried to keep myself out of trouble and missed only one fairway. I hit all of the greens as well,” said Da Silva.
Both considered veterans on the Sunshine Tour, they’ll also enjoy being in the same group on the final day.
“I haven’t played with Doug for a long time, but it will be fun. He’s a great character,” said Da Silva.
Of the younger brigade around them, Harvey did well to keep himself in contention with a 68 that started badly.
“I missed probably the shortest putt I’ve ever missed in my life on the first hole,” he said of the tap-in for birdie that shaved the hole. “Then I bogeyed the second and was really worried. But I just tried to stay in the moment and I’m happy with where I am.”
Harvey has won twice on the developmental Big Easy Tour, so has some experience of final round pressure.
“Obviously it’s going to be different on the main Sunshine Tour. But I’m excited. You just live and learn and enjoy it.”
The lowest round of the day came from Mark Williams, who produced a 64 for a total of eight under. He did so using a long putter for the first time in his career. It was enough to impress McGuigan.
But as someone who’s been on tour long enough to recall a time when “long putter” described somebody who could hole out from 30 feet or more, he wasn’t about to switch from his traditional short putter just yet.
“I’m just long in the tooth,” he said.
Round two scores from the Vodacom Origins of Golf event at Selborne Hotel, Spa and Golf Estate on Thursday. Scores (RSA unless specified):
-10 - Doug McGuigan 68 66
-9 - Adilson Da Silva (BRA) 69 66
-8 - Mark Williams 72 64
-7 - Martin du Toit 68 (-3) [6]
-6 - Danie van Tonder 71 67, Joshua Cunliffe 69 69, Jared Harvey 67 (-1) [6], Vaughn Groenewald 68 (-2) [6], Charl Coetzee 69 (-3) [6], Trevor Fisher Jnr 68 (-2) [6]
-5 - PG van Zyl 69 70, Andrew Curlewis 70 (-3) [3]
-4 - Desvonde Botes 71 69, Divan van den Heever 69 71, Michiel Bothma 70 70, Stuart Clark (WAL) 72 (-4) [6], Allan Versfeld 70 (-2) [6], Christiaan Basson 70 (-2) [3]
-3 - Jake Redman 67 74, David Hewan 69 (Par) [3], Jacques Blaauw 69 (Par) [3]
-2 - Graham van der Merwe 69 73, Ryan Tipping 75 67, Neil Schietekat 74 68, Bryce Easton 75 67, Dean Burmester 70 72, Grant Muller 73 69, Tyrone Ferreira 74 68, Theunis Spangenberg 71 71, Wallie Coetsee 71 (-1) [6], Ulrich van den Berg 71 (-1) [3], Jaco Ahlers 73 (-3) [3], Matthew Carvell 71 (-1) [3]
-1 - Andre Cruse 72 71, Des Terblanche 73 70, Chris Swanepoel 73 70, Bradford Vaughan 72 (-1) [6], Justin Harding 69 (+2) [3], Albert Pistorius 71 (Par) [3]
Par - Michael Hollick 71 (+1) [6], Anthony Michael 72 (Par) [6], Titch Moore 74 (-2) [6], Morne Buys 72 (Par) [6], Merrick Bremner 70 (+2) [3]
Missed the cut:-
+1 - Francois Coetzee 74 71, Derik Ferreira 72 73, Riekus Nortje 76 (-3) [6], Johan Bekker 72 (+1) [6], Oliver Bekker 74 (-1) [3], Jean Hugo 74 (-1) [3]
+2 - Hendrik Buhrmann 73 73, Ruan de Smidt 74 72, Lean Boezaart 75 (-1) [6], PH McIntyre 75 (-1) [6], Alan Michell 71 (+3) [6]
+3 - Brandon Pieters 75 72, Lindani Ndwandwe 75 (Par) [6]
+4 - Warren Abery 75 73, Steven Ferreira 76 72, Louis Calitz 76 72, Colin Nel 77 (-1) [3]
+5 - JJ Senekal 73 76, Dean O'Riley 76 73, Attie Schwartzel 73 (+4) [6]
+6 - Prinavin Nelson 73 77, Daniel Greene 75 75
+7 - Johan du Buisson 75 76, Ockie Strydom 76 (+3) [3]
+9 - JG Claassen 78 75
+11 - Brett Liddle 83 72
+13 - Shaun Norris 81 76
WD - Grant Veenstra 82 WD
