An eagle on the ninth helped Hennie du Plessis to a five-under-par on Friday in the second round of the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.
He also made five birdies and two bogeys as he moved to seven-under-par for the tournament ahead of the weekend. He was in a share of sixth place, just three shots off the lead which was held by Max Homa of the United States and Matthieu Pavon of France after rounds of 68 and 66 respectively.
The leaders were one clear of Dan Bradbury of England, the Joburg Open champion, who was on nine-under-par after his second round of 69. The Danish duo of Nicolai Hojgaard and Thorbjorn Olesen were on eight-under-par in a share of fourth.
Du Plessis shared sixth with former South African Open champion, Richie Ramsay of Scotland.
Branden Grace was the next-best of the South Africans. He carded a two-under-par 70 to move to two-under for the tournament and a share of 31st. Thriston Lawrence was on level-par after a one-over 73, Louis de Jager had a 71 to move to three-over, Zander Lombard carded a level-par 72 to stay at four-over, while Ockie Strydom slipped to five-over after his two-over 74 in the second round.
Pavon carded the joint lowest round of the day with his 66, while Homa is yet to drop a shot in his first 36 holes at Sun City.
“I’m very pleased, a little surprised, pleasantly surprised. It’s been nice, the body’s feeling better as the week’s gone on,” Homa said.
“I woke up today and felt like a golfer again, so that was nice. It’s a real dream. If you fly 20-odd hours over here, you may as well play some good golf. So it’s nice that I’m doing that.”
