Heinrich Bruiners carded a three-under-par 69 on Tuesday to move into a five-way share of the lead at eight-under-par after the second round of the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour Chase to #5 Waterkloof – and headed straight for the range.
While he was happy to be in a position to challenge for the title in the final round, there was enough to make him feel he had work to do after he made four birdies and a bogey to go with his bogey-free opening round of 67 the previous day.
“I think I tried a little too hard,” said the 32-year-old veteran who has a Sunshine Tour victory to his name and is looking to regain some form. “After the first round, I wanted to go really low. I had it going after the turn when I got to three-under, but then I made two stupid three-putts.
“I was being a little greedy, to be honest, after feeling that I could have shot 10-under in the first round. I played really well yesterday, but I missed lots of putts. The greens are really good here, but they are really fast and it’s tricky to get the pace right.”
Bruiners shares the lead with first-round leader Vaughn van Deventer, who recovered from a four-over 40 on his opening nine to card a level-par 72 to go with his opening 64. Also at the top of the leaderboard are Michael Kok, Albert Venter and South Africa’s top amateur, Casey Jarvis.
On a crowded leaderboard, Marthin Scheepers and Andriel Poonan share sixth one stroke back, with Nikhil Rama, Louis Albertse and amateurs Ryan van Velzen and Christiaan Burke on six-under in a share of eighth.
The 36-hole cut was made at two-under par, with 40 players going to contest the final round on Wednesday.
For Bruiners, it’s about being there to grab his chances. “There are lots of opportunities out there,” he said. “Someone is going to go low, so it might as well be me.”