Jason Froneman played himself into a share of the lead on Tuesday in the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour’s Chase to the Sunshine Tour #35 at Akasia Golf Club when he carded a second round of four-under-par 68.
He joined first-round leader Franklin Manchest on five-under going into the final round, ones troke clear of a very threatening group of players on four-under consisting of Michael Kok, Kyle McClatchie, Ryan Tipping and amateur Calvin Maia. Two shots further back were lurking Regan Steyn, Herman Loubser and Leon Vorster.
While Manchest struggled his way through the opening nine, with bogeys on five consecutive holes from two to six, Froneman started with consecutive birdies on one and two. Although he dropped shots on five and six, he picked up another birdie on eight to turn in one-under.
Froneman birdied 11, and then made eagle on the par-five 14th. Birdies on 16 and 17 made it look as if he was going to hold a substantial lead into the final round, he made double-bogey seven on th 18th to relinquish his sole possession of the top of the leaderboard.
Manchest stuck to his guns despite his awful start, and he birdied the eighth to steady his ship. Birdie on 10 and 11 put him on course again, and a bogey on 14 – which he eagled in the first round – was not enough to derail his recovery. He picked up three more shots coming home, on 15, 17 and 18 to grab a share of the lead which was his alone after the first round.
