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Harare – Ruan de Smidt shared the lead with Trevor Fisher Jnr. after the second round of the Zimbabwe Open at Royal Harare Golf Club.
“This is a very different feeling for me. It’s the first tournament where I’m into contention as a pro and I’ve never been up there, so we’ll have to see how it goes this weekend,” he said.
The 22-year-old rookie made his way round in a cool 65 strokes to head into the weekend at nine-under-par, tied for the top spot with Trevor Fisher, Jnr.
“Things worked for me on the back nine, I just hit it really solid,” said De Smidt. “I hit it close and made 16 greens today, so I was striking it well, putting wasn’t bad, made a couple, so it helps.”
He enjoyed success at the Africa Open in January after a third-round 67 moved him to tied 13th, but struggled around in 77 on the final day. Despite the slip he felt confident, largely due to his constant participation in the Big Easy Tour, where he has finished in the top 10 at all three events this season.
“The Big Easy has given me a lot of confidence. I’ve always had slow starts on the Big Easy Tour, but I’ve gone on from there. I think that has given me a lot of confidence this week – yesterday I had a terrible start, but I came back on the back nine in 32 – I had the confidence to stay calm.”
Fisher, who shares the halfway lead at nine-under, set the benchmark with a superb seven-under-par 65 on day two. He felt that minimizing mistakes was the key to success, and said: “I went up and down for par a few times today, which keep the momentum going. I only made two bogeys today, and otherwise it was good.”
He made an impressive eagle at the sixth after his ball bounced out of a fairway bunker and onto the short grass. “I hit a three-wood from the fairway to about four metres. I chipped in from there, which always gets you going,” he said.
De Smidt was not going to let his lead slip, and said, “I’m just going to try and hit as many greens as I can, make a couple of putts and hopefully pull it off. I’m just going to try to finish top 10, but a win will be great, so I’m going to stick to what I’ve been doing now.”
SCORES (RSA unless otherwise specified):
-9 - Ruan de Smidt (RSA) 70 65, Trevor Fisher Jnr (RSA) 70 65
-8 - Albert Pistorius (RSA) 66 70
-6 - Justin Walters (RSA) 72 66, Ulrich van den Berg (RSA) 69 69, Andrew Curlewis (RSA) 68 70
-5 - Callie Swart (RSA) 70 69, Matthew Carvell (RSA) 67 72, Colin Nel (RSA) 70 69
-4 - Desvonde Botes (RSA) 71 69, Chris Swanepoel (RSA) 71 69
-3 - Irvin Mazibuko (RSA) 67 74, Jake Roos (RSA) 71 70
-2 - Steven van Heerden (RSA) 70 72, Ryan Cairns (ZIM) 70 72, Alan Michell (RSA) 72 70, Des Terblanche (RSA) 73 69, Lyle Rowe (RSA) 67 75, Jean Hugo (RSA) 71 71,Daniel Greene (RSA) 71 71
-1 - Ryan Thompson (RSA) 72 71, Ben Mannix (ENG) 72 71, Shaun Norris (RSA) 72 71, Dean Burmester (RSA) 75 68, Danie van Tonder (RSA) 72 71,Teboho Sefatsa (RSA) 72 71, Derick Petersen (RSA) 70 73, Christiaan Basson (RSA) 71 72, James Kamte (RSA) 73 70, Andrew Georgiou (RSA) 72 71
Par - JJ Senekal (RSA) 71 73, Anthony Michael (RSA) 73 71, Jacques Blaauw (RSA) 71 73, TC Charamba (ZIM) 72 72, Tyrone Ferreira (RSA) 73 71,Graham van der Merwe (RSA) 72 72, Wynand Dingle (RSA) 71 73, Dismas Indiza (KEN) 71 73, Darren Fichardt (RSA) 75 69, Allan Versfeld (RSA) 79 65,Riekus Nortje (RSA) 71 73, Jared Harvey (RSA) 75 69
+1 - Jason Scrivener (AUS) 73 72, Mohammad Rauf Mandhu (ZIM) 74 71, Coenie Stoop (RSA) 75 70, Toto Thimba (Jnr) 69 76, Louis de Jager (RSA) 75 70,Brett Liddle (RSA) 70 75, Mark Fensham (RSA) 74 71, Chris Erasmus (RSA) 76 69, Keenan Davidse (RSA) 72 73, Jeff Inglis (ENG) 73 72, Wallie Coetsee (RSA) 71 74,Titch Moore (RSA) 71 74, Grant Muller (RSA) 72 73, Jaco Ahlers (RSA) 73 72, Bryce Easton (RSA) 74 71
+2 - Robson Saurombe (ZIM) 70 76, JG Claassen (RSA) 75 71, Justin Harding (RSA) 76 70, Tyrone Ryan (RSA) 71 75, Divan Gerber (RSA) 74 72, Lindani Ndwandwe (RSA) 75 71,Jason Jackson (ZIM) 76 70, Jack Kutumane (RSA) 74 72, Daniel Hammond (RSA) 72 74, Prinavin Nelson (RSA) 72 74, Shane Pringle (ZIM) 71 75, Micky Hough (ZIM) 74 72,Jacques van Tonder (RSA) 74 72, Michael Scholz (RSA) 74 (Par) [15]
Missed the cut:-
+3 - Merrick Bremner (RSA) 72 75, Neil Cheetham (ENG) 75 72, Morne Buys (RSA) 71 76, Martin du Toit (RSA) 75 72, Michael Hollick (RSA) 75 72,Ross Wellington (RSA) 75 (Par) [15]
+4 - Ignatius Mketekete (ZIM) 76 72, Andrew Odoh (NGA) 76 72, Derik Ferreira (RSA) 78 70, Vaughn Groenewald (RSA) 72 76, Mark Williams (RSA) 75 73,Stefan Engell Andersen (KEN) 71 77, Ryan Strauss (RSA) 73 75, Bruce McDonald (ZIM) 71 77, Mark Murless (RSA) 78 70, Divan van den Heever (RSA) 80 68,JP van der Walt (RSA) 72 (+4) [15]
+5 - Robert Wiederkehr (SUI) 76 73, Jake Redman (RSA) 73 76, Dale Howie (ZIM) 76 73, Peter Wilson (ENG) 77 72, Anyway Katembenuka (ZIM) 75 74,Doug McGuigan (RSA) 73 76
+6 - Vengesai Phiri (ZIM) 75 75, Mike Lamb (ZIM) 72 78, Grant Veenstra (RSA) 78 72, Neil Schietekat (RSA) 72 78, Aron Zemmer (ITA) 77 73, Anton Haig (RSA) 76 74,Tyrone Mordt (RSA) 76 74, Brian Gondo (ZIM) 75 75, Johann Mostert (RSA) 80 70, Tich Musemburi (ZIM) 73 77
+7 - Gary Birch Jr (GER) 77 74, Ryan Tipping (RSA) 73 78, Drikus van der Walt (RSA) 77 74, Jason Underwood (ZIM) 79 72, PH McIntyre (RSA) 72 79,Alpheus Kelapile (RSA) 78 73
+8 - Ryan Lang (ZIM) 77 75, Andre Cruse (RSA) 76 76, Day Muyambo (ZIM) 76 76, Darren Bismark (ZIM) 79 73
+9 - Akil Yousuf (ENG) 78 75, Beyers Smith (RSA) 82 71, Alan McLean (SCO) 76 77, Steven Ferreira (RSA) 77 76, Lean Boezaart (RSA) 82 71, Rodgers Jack (ZIM) 75 78,Davison Elijah (ZIM) 79 74, Phillip Tshuma (ZIM) 76 77, Francois Coetzee (RSA) 84 69, Mark Bright (RSA) 74 79
+10 - Roy Da Costa (POR) 80 74, Bennie van der Merwe (RSA) 77 77, Johan Bekker (RSA) 82 72, Mairosi Katembenuka (ZIM) 78 76, Andre van Zyl (RSA) 79 75,Julius Kamalizeni (ZIM) 76 78, Charl Coetzee (RSA) 78 76, Theunis Spangenberg (RSA) 82 72, Tranos Muradzikwa (ZIM) 77 77, Omar Sandys (RSA) 79 75
+11 - Joe Nawanga (NAM) 76 79, Louis Calitz (RSA) 77 78, Thabang Simon (RSA) 76 79, Peter Banda (ZIM) 79 76, Chris Williams (RSA) 78 77, Coenie Bester (RSA) 81 74
+12 - Clive Nguru (ZIM) (AMA) 78 78, Patrick Mwendapole (ZAM) 79 77
+13 - Stuart Smith (BOT) 78 79, Christopher Manning (ZIM)(AMA) 77 80
+14 - Attie Schwartzel (RSA) 82 76, Lyford Yadyo (ZIM) 80 78, Steve Basson (RSA) 82 76, Thomas Lovett (RSA) 78 80
+15 - Greg Petzer (RSA) 82 77
+17 - William Lake (ZIM) 84 77, Beza Daka (ZAM) 79 82
+18 - Nick Masunga(ZIM) (AMA) 88 74, Byran Rocher (ZIM) 82 80
+20 - Brendan de Lange (RSA) 83 81
+21 - Tongesai Chingwena (ZIM) (AMA) 89 76
+25 - Travis Smith (ZIM) (AMA) 86 83
“This is a very different feeling for me. It’s the first tournament where I’m into contention as a pro and I’ve never been up there, so we’ll have to see how it goes this weekend,” he said.
The 22-year-old rookie made his way round in a cool 65 strokes to head into the weekend at nine-under-par, tied for the top spot with Trevor Fisher, Jnr.
“Things worked for me on the back nine, I just hit it really solid,” said De Smidt. “I hit it close and made 16 greens today, so I was striking it well, putting wasn’t bad, made a couple, so it helps.”
He enjoyed success at the Africa Open in January after a third-round 67 moved him to tied 13th, but struggled around in 77 on the final day. Despite the slip he felt confident, largely due to his constant participation in the Big Easy Tour, where he has finished in the top 10 at all three events this season.
“The Big Easy has given me a lot of confidence. I’ve always had slow starts on the Big Easy Tour, but I’ve gone on from there. I think that has given me a lot of confidence this week – yesterday I had a terrible start, but I came back on the back nine in 32 – I had the confidence to stay calm.”
Fisher, who shares the halfway lead at nine-under, set the benchmark with a superb seven-under-par 65 on day two. He felt that minimizing mistakes was the key to success, and said: “I went up and down for par a few times today, which keep the momentum going. I only made two bogeys today, and otherwise it was good.”
He made an impressive eagle at the sixth after his ball bounced out of a fairway bunker and onto the short grass. “I hit a three-wood from the fairway to about four metres. I chipped in from there, which always gets you going,” he said.
De Smidt was not going to let his lead slip, and said, “I’m just going to try and hit as many greens as I can, make a couple of putts and hopefully pull it off. I’m just going to try to finish top 10, but a win will be great, so I’m going to stick to what I’ve been doing now.”
SCORES (RSA unless otherwise specified):
-9 - Ruan de Smidt (RSA) 70 65, Trevor Fisher Jnr (RSA) 70 65
-8 - Albert Pistorius (RSA) 66 70
-6 - Justin Walters (RSA) 72 66, Ulrich van den Berg (RSA) 69 69, Andrew Curlewis (RSA) 68 70
-5 - Callie Swart (RSA) 70 69, Matthew Carvell (RSA) 67 72, Colin Nel (RSA) 70 69
-4 - Desvonde Botes (RSA) 71 69, Chris Swanepoel (RSA) 71 69
-3 - Irvin Mazibuko (RSA) 67 74, Jake Roos (RSA) 71 70
-2 - Steven van Heerden (RSA) 70 72, Ryan Cairns (ZIM) 70 72, Alan Michell (RSA) 72 70, Des Terblanche (RSA) 73 69, Lyle Rowe (RSA) 67 75, Jean Hugo (RSA) 71 71,Daniel Greene (RSA) 71 71
-1 - Ryan Thompson (RSA) 72 71, Ben Mannix (ENG) 72 71, Shaun Norris (RSA) 72 71, Dean Burmester (RSA) 75 68, Danie van Tonder (RSA) 72 71,Teboho Sefatsa (RSA) 72 71, Derick Petersen (RSA) 70 73, Christiaan Basson (RSA) 71 72, James Kamte (RSA) 73 70, Andrew Georgiou (RSA) 72 71
Par - JJ Senekal (RSA) 71 73, Anthony Michael (RSA) 73 71, Jacques Blaauw (RSA) 71 73, TC Charamba (ZIM) 72 72, Tyrone Ferreira (RSA) 73 71,Graham van der Merwe (RSA) 72 72, Wynand Dingle (RSA) 71 73, Dismas Indiza (KEN) 71 73, Darren Fichardt (RSA) 75 69, Allan Versfeld (RSA) 79 65,Riekus Nortje (RSA) 71 73, Jared Harvey (RSA) 75 69
+1 - Jason Scrivener (AUS) 73 72, Mohammad Rauf Mandhu (ZIM) 74 71, Coenie Stoop (RSA) 75 70, Toto Thimba (Jnr) 69 76, Louis de Jager (RSA) 75 70,Brett Liddle (RSA) 70 75, Mark Fensham (RSA) 74 71, Chris Erasmus (RSA) 76 69, Keenan Davidse (RSA) 72 73, Jeff Inglis (ENG) 73 72, Wallie Coetsee (RSA) 71 74,Titch Moore (RSA) 71 74, Grant Muller (RSA) 72 73, Jaco Ahlers (RSA) 73 72, Bryce Easton (RSA) 74 71
+2 - Robson Saurombe (ZIM) 70 76, JG Claassen (RSA) 75 71, Justin Harding (RSA) 76 70, Tyrone Ryan (RSA) 71 75, Divan Gerber (RSA) 74 72, Lindani Ndwandwe (RSA) 75 71,Jason Jackson (ZIM) 76 70, Jack Kutumane (RSA) 74 72, Daniel Hammond (RSA) 72 74, Prinavin Nelson (RSA) 72 74, Shane Pringle (ZIM) 71 75, Micky Hough (ZIM) 74 72,Jacques van Tonder (RSA) 74 72, Michael Scholz (RSA) 74 (Par) [15]
Missed the cut:-
+3 - Merrick Bremner (RSA) 72 75, Neil Cheetham (ENG) 75 72, Morne Buys (RSA) 71 76, Martin du Toit (RSA) 75 72, Michael Hollick (RSA) 75 72,Ross Wellington (RSA) 75 (Par) [15]
+4 - Ignatius Mketekete (ZIM) 76 72, Andrew Odoh (NGA) 76 72, Derik Ferreira (RSA) 78 70, Vaughn Groenewald (RSA) 72 76, Mark Williams (RSA) 75 73,Stefan Engell Andersen (KEN) 71 77, Ryan Strauss (RSA) 73 75, Bruce McDonald (ZIM) 71 77, Mark Murless (RSA) 78 70, Divan van den Heever (RSA) 80 68,JP van der Walt (RSA) 72 (+4) [15]
+5 - Robert Wiederkehr (SUI) 76 73, Jake Redman (RSA) 73 76, Dale Howie (ZIM) 76 73, Peter Wilson (ENG) 77 72, Anyway Katembenuka (ZIM) 75 74,Doug McGuigan (RSA) 73 76
+6 - Vengesai Phiri (ZIM) 75 75, Mike Lamb (ZIM) 72 78, Grant Veenstra (RSA) 78 72, Neil Schietekat (RSA) 72 78, Aron Zemmer (ITA) 77 73, Anton Haig (RSA) 76 74,Tyrone Mordt (RSA) 76 74, Brian Gondo (ZIM) 75 75, Johann Mostert (RSA) 80 70, Tich Musemburi (ZIM) 73 77
+7 - Gary Birch Jr (GER) 77 74, Ryan Tipping (RSA) 73 78, Drikus van der Walt (RSA) 77 74, Jason Underwood (ZIM) 79 72, PH McIntyre (RSA) 72 79,Alpheus Kelapile (RSA) 78 73
+8 - Ryan Lang (ZIM) 77 75, Andre Cruse (RSA) 76 76, Day Muyambo (ZIM) 76 76, Darren Bismark (ZIM) 79 73
+9 - Akil Yousuf (ENG) 78 75, Beyers Smith (RSA) 82 71, Alan McLean (SCO) 76 77, Steven Ferreira (RSA) 77 76, Lean Boezaart (RSA) 82 71, Rodgers Jack (ZIM) 75 78,Davison Elijah (ZIM) 79 74, Phillip Tshuma (ZIM) 76 77, Francois Coetzee (RSA) 84 69, Mark Bright (RSA) 74 79
+10 - Roy Da Costa (POR) 80 74, Bennie van der Merwe (RSA) 77 77, Johan Bekker (RSA) 82 72, Mairosi Katembenuka (ZIM) 78 76, Andre van Zyl (RSA) 79 75,Julius Kamalizeni (ZIM) 76 78, Charl Coetzee (RSA) 78 76, Theunis Spangenberg (RSA) 82 72, Tranos Muradzikwa (ZIM) 77 77, Omar Sandys (RSA) 79 75
+11 - Joe Nawanga (NAM) 76 79, Louis Calitz (RSA) 77 78, Thabang Simon (RSA) 76 79, Peter Banda (ZIM) 79 76, Chris Williams (RSA) 78 77, Coenie Bester (RSA) 81 74
+12 - Clive Nguru (ZIM) (AMA) 78 78, Patrick Mwendapole (ZAM) 79 77
+13 - Stuart Smith (BOT) 78 79, Christopher Manning (ZIM)(AMA) 77 80
+14 - Attie Schwartzel (RSA) 82 76, Lyford Yadyo (ZIM) 80 78, Steve Basson (RSA) 82 76, Thomas Lovett (RSA) 78 80
+15 - Greg Petzer (RSA) 82 77
+17 - William Lake (ZIM) 84 77, Beza Daka (ZAM) 79 82
+18 - Nick Masunga(ZIM) (AMA) 88 74, Byran Rocher (ZIM) 82 80
+20 - Brendan de Lange (RSA) 83 81
+21 - Tongesai Chingwena (ZIM) (AMA) 89 76
+25 - Travis Smith (ZIM) (AMA) 86 83
