BELA BELA, Limpopo – Jake Redman looked nothing but a picture of absolute calm as he overcame both a double-bogey start and the dark storm clouds swirling above him to play himself to within one shot of the lead in Friday’s incomplete second round of the SDC Open hosted by Zebula Golf Estate and Spa.
Redman signed for a 67 to make it safely into the clubhouse on 11 under par, with Germany’s Freddy Schott leading the field on 12 under following his round of 64 at the Elements Private Golf Reserve, the other course hosting the first two rounds of this tournament. Frenchman Clement Sordet is on 11 under for the tournament having played only six holes of his second round at Elements.
The weather affected play at both courses on Friday. The field at Elements had to contend with three suspensions of play, while at Zebula they managed to continue until a suspension had to be called for dangerous weather late in the afternoon.
As a result, the second round will have to be completed on Saturday morning before the start of the third round.
But Redman was smiling broadly at being able to complete his round, and to be well in contention despite the start he endured.
“I had a shocking lie in the rough on the first hole. Then after that I thinned it over the green with my bunker shot. So it was a long six on the first hole of the day. You’ve just got to put it behind you and start all over again. I was happy that my game was there to be able to do that. I made important putts that were key to keeping the momentum going and the birdies ticking over,” he said of the next eight birdies, and with only one bogey in there as well.
“I came into this tournament with the thought of taking it one step at a time, and I’ll keep doing that on the weekend.”
The leader Schott had an early start on Friday morning, and made the most of it. “It was great. Waking up at 4:30am was definitely worth it. My driving is carrying me through the whole round at the moment. But you also can’t shoot 64 without putting well, and that was a good part of my game as well. I had two weeks off now and spent some time in Cape Town and it’s turned out nicely for me. So now I just want to get out there and be competitive on the weekend, and see where it all goes.”
South Africans MJ Viljoen, Daniel van Tonder and Deon Germishuys are all well placed on 10 under par alongside Australian Deyen Lawson. – Michael Vlismas
Photo Credit: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour
