Port Elizabeth - The second round of the Sun Boardwalk Golf Challenge had to be called off due to strong winds, but Port Elizabeth local Titch Moore was unperturbed by the situation and ready to tackle the final round on Friday.
"It’s been tough over the last few days and it’s blowing a bit hard at the coast. The balls were moving, so they made the right decision by calling us off." Moore told sunshinetour.com.
"The round has been cancelled, so it’s a fresh start tomorrow and we’re two behind the lead. It’s not a bad position to be in and hopefully I can produce the goods tomorrow," he said.
The eight-time Sunshine Tour winner has played Humewood Golf Club many times during his 17 years on tour and looked forward to another chance to compete there.
"I’ve played here plenty and enjoy the course, which is in immaculate condition at the moment. I had a couple of old teachers and mates, and my dad out here, which was awesome.
"We don’t have a lot of sport down here in Port Elizabeth, so you should see plenty of guys out here spectating tomorrow,” he said.
Moore opened the event with a two-under-par 70, and once the decision was made to count only the first round scores it left him in a share of second place, two off the lead of Roberto Lupini.
"It’s a tough course and a good one to play, so hopefully I can keep it going," Lupini said.
Tournament Director Theo Manyama explained the decision to cut the tournament short.
"The course was very unplayable today, especially in the afternoon, because the balls were not staying on the greens.
"We’ve decided to reduce the tournament to 36 holes, with a cut based on the first round scores," he said.
Moore won the Telkom Business PGA Championship earlier in April and come Friday he’ll be ready to take a crack at victory.
Scores:
68 - Roberto Lupini
70 - Andrew Curlewis, Titch Moore
71 - Lindani Ndwandwe, Jean-Paul Strydom, Steve Surry (ENG), Dean Burmester, Keith Horne
72 - Shaun Norris, Desvonde Botes, Ruan de Smidt, James Kamte, Francois van Vuuren
73 - Andrew Light, Adrian Ford, Chris Swanepoel, Keenan Davidse, Heinrich Bruiners, Haydn Porteous, Ulrich van den Berg,Jake Redman, Peter Karmis, Steven Ferreira, Doug McGuigan
74 - Bryce Bibby, Alan Michell, Neil Schietekat, Colin Nel, Danie van Tonder, Andre Cruse, PH McIntyre, Jean Hugo,Alex Haindl, Tyrone Ferreira, Shaun Smith, Justin Turner, Allan Versfeld, Justin Harding, Louis de Jager
75 - Derik Ferreira, Divan van den Heever, Ryan Tipping, Paul de Beer, Edwin Kutara (NAM), Stefan Engell Andersen (KEN), Grant Muller
Missed the cut:
76 - Irvin Mazibuko, Grant Veenstra, Michael Hollick, Le Roux Ferreira, Johan du Buisson, Drikus Bruyns, Jeff Inglis (ENG),Lyle Rowe, Attie Schwartzel, Mark Fensham, Erik van Rooyen
77 - Rhys West, Thriston Lawrence, JG Claassen, Madalitso Muthiya (ZAM), Francois Coetzee, Christiaan Basson,Drikus van der Walt, Derick Petersen, Gert Myburgh, Tyrone Ryan
78 - Torben Baumann (GER), Jaco Prinsloo, Wallie Coetsee, Sipho Bujela, Desne van den Bergh, Jaco Ahlers, Vaughn Groenewald,Matthew Carvell, JJ Senekal, Gideon Pienaar, Jack Harrison (ENG), Louis Botha, Jared Harvey, Brett Liddle
79 - Warren Abery, Theunis Spangenberg, JC Ritchie, Charl Coetzee, Mark Williams (ZIM)
80 - Mpho Mafishe, Neo Thubisi, Dayne Moore (ZAM), Toto Thimba (Jnr), Tertius van den Berg
81 - Juan Langeveld, Callum Mowat, Arthur Horne (SWZ), Teboho Sefatsa, Riekus Nortje
82 - Allister de Kock, Maritz Wessels
83 - Eddie Taylor, Mike Maile
84 - Ryan Strauss, Terence Salo, Pieter Moolman
85 - Bennie van der Merwe
86 - Kangwine Chiluba (ZAM), Anthony Michael, Tyrone Mordt
87 - Makhetha Mazibuko