Kyle McClatchie has won four times on the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour this year, and, on Tuesday, he took a big step towards a possible fifth title for 2021 with a six-under-par 66 propelling him to a share of the 36-hole lead of the Chase to the Sunshine Tour #36 at Centurion Country Club.
Together with his opening 67, he moved to 11-under for the tournament ahead of the final round, joining amateur Casey Jarvis in a three-stroke lead over Jason Froneman and Michael Kok. Calvin Maia, also an amateur, was in fifth on six-under for the tournament after his four-under 68 for the second round.
McClatchie got a birdie on the second hole, but he gave that shot up immediately with a bogey on the third. That, however, was to be the last of his dropped shots for the round as he made birdies on seven and nine to turn in two-under 34, and then four more on the homeward nine, on 11, 12, 14 and 15.
McClatchie’s putting has played a large role in his recent success, and he followed a superb display on the greens in the first round, when he had 25 putts, with 27 putts in the second round. He was also impressive in to the greens, hitting 15 of 18 greens in regulation in the second round.
Jarvis had a two-stroke lead after the first round with his eight-under 64 – he was three clear of McClatchie, though – and he followed that with a three-under 69 in the second round. A double-bogey seven on the par-five 15th cost him as he was otherwise flawless with five birdies on his card.
Both Froneman and Kok have tasted recent success – Froneman in June and Kok in September – and are keen to add to their trophy collections. Froneman had a two-under 70, and Kok a three-under 69.