Dwayne Basson (pictured) and Allister de Kock showed the value of knowing your playing partner well on Tuesday as they shot a second-successive 11-under-par in betterball to hold a share of the second-round lead of the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour’s Team Championship at ERPM Golf Club.
It was their second round without any bogeys on the card, and they share the lead at 22-under-par with another duo who shot a second 11-under, Jared Harvey and Michael Hollick. They have a two-stroke edge over Thriston Lawrence and Albert Venter.
“We actually made about six bogeys between us,” said Basson, “but each time that happened, the other one more than made up for it. For instance, I messed up my tee shots on the last two holes and Allister just stepped up and split the fairways. It’s like that: I know he’s got my back, and he knows I’ve got his.”
The pair practice a lot together, and they also travel a lot together, especially when they’re playing on the Sunshine Tour. “We do know each other’s games very well,” said Basson. “we’re able to go out on the course and we know what to expect of each other. And, as it should be in a team competition, there’s not time for saying sorry. If one of us messed up, the other stuck it inside two metres.”
They had a sense that there was better golf to be had. “We’re 22-under and we’re not even leading by ourselves,” said Basson. “I missed a makeable eagle putt on 13, and that shows that there are shots out there that we can pick up still.
“We’ll go out and try for a third 11-under, and, if that’s not good enough, then I don’t know!”
There was a 59 from a pair, matching the low round in the history of the championship. Dean O’Riley and Chase Paton. They were helped by an ace from Paton on the fifth.
The tournament concludes on Wednesday.