France’s Maxence Giboudot fired a bogey-free eight-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend of the SDC Open as he targets a place in the tournament’s history. MICHAEL VLISMAS reports.
Giboudot tops the leaderboard on 11 under after a testing second round played in hot and demanding conditions at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa on Friday.
“That’s very welcome,” he said. “It was hot and tough, but everything I could control went well. I felt like I played well, but nothing crazy. The short game was really good today. All my wedges were close and I made some putts towards the end of the round. But it’s wild out there. The rough is wild. You have to be on the fairway here.”
The Frenchman, in his third season on the HotelPlanner Tour, is aiming to become the second French winner of the SDC Open after Clement Sordet’s victory in 2022.
He leads by one shot over Welshman Rhys Enoch, the defending champion, who carded a second-round 65. South Africa’s Martin Vorster is also one back after a 69, alongside Spain’s Joel Moscatel, who signed for a 65.
Giboudot is chasing a strong campaign on the HotelPlanner Tour as he looks to secure promotion to the DP World Tour at the end of the season, following in the footsteps of fellow Frenchmen Martin Couvra and Oihan Guillamoundeguy.
“They make me want to get up there with them,” he said. “I just need to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Enoch, meanwhile, is well placed to attempt a rare title defence and could become the first player to win the SDC Open twice.
“I have a lot of memories of my win here,” he said. “Every hole and every pin position I’ve already seen. It brings back really good emotions and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in this weekend.”
Vorster also reflected positively on his position near the top of the leaderboard.
“My goal this week hasn’t been about scores at all,” he said. “It’s been about executing routines and playing the course smartly. It’s nice to be in contention and I’m really excited for the weekend.”
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Photo: Carl Fourie/Getty Images
Article Link: Giboudot chases history at SDC Open