Amateur Andries van der Vyver will head into the weekend of the Sunshine Tour’s FBC Zim Open just two strokes off the lead of Chilean professional, Tomas Gana.
Gana signed for a solid four-under-par 68 at the Royal Harare Golf Club for a tournament total of 11 under par as he continues his quest for a victory in his first Sunshine Tour event of the new season.
But behind him, GolfRSA National Squad member Van Der Vyver impressed with his round of 67 to join Altin van der Merwe (68) in second place on nine under par.
Van Der Vyver has established himself as one of the rising stars of South African golf and will be taking up a scholarship at Augusta University this July. He is also looking for a rare double in this event, having won the Zimbabwe Junior Open.
Australia’s Austin Bautista, who finished second in this event last year, heads into the weekend in contention on eight under par.
Gana is looking to make his own piece of FBC Zim Open history. After Mexico’s Luis Carrera managed to become the first non-South African winner of the FBC Zim Open in 24 years with his victory last year, Gana is now aiming to keep that trend going.
After teeing off at the 10th, he rolled in four birdies and dropped just one shot on his opening nine. There was only one more birdie for him on his second nine, but it was enough to keep him in the lead.
It was an emotional day for Doug McGuigan, who at the age of 55 made the cut in a tournament where he made his Sunshine Tour debut. McGuigan signed for a second round of 69 and is tied 21st on four under par heading into the weekend.
Defending champion Luis Carrera struggled with a 76 and just made the cut on level par.
SCORES
133 – Tomas Gana 65 68
135 – Altin van der Merwe 67 68
135 – Andries van der Vyver 68 67
136 – Jaco Prinsloo 66 70
136 – Austin Bautista 66 70
137 – Kyle Barker 69 68
137 – Samuel Simpson 68 69, Jacques Van der Merwe 69 68
138 – Keenan Davidse 68 70
138 – Simon du Plooy 69 69, Benjamin Kedochim 67 71
139 – Darlington Chikayambidze 70 69
139 – Wynand Dingle 69 70, Keagan Thomas 70 69, Ryan van der Klis 66 73, Heinrich Bruiners 68 71, Dylan Mostert 70 69, Graham van der Merwe 71 68, Jason Roets 67 72, Tyran Snyders 69 70
140 – Doug McGuigan 71 69
140 – Cole Stevens 69 71, Travis Procter 71 69, Jaco Ahlers 67 73, Gabriel Morgan 66 74
141 – Lyle Rowe 70 71
141 – Kyle McClatchie 69 72, Rupert Kaminski 73 68, Warwick Purchase 70 71, Zachary Chegwidden 69 72, Quintin Wilsnach 70 71, Christiaan Burke 67 74, Martin Vorster 69 72, Ruan Korb 68 73, Rowan Lester 69 72
142 – Hennie O’Kennedy 69 73
142 – Jaden Deltel 70 72, Michael Wallace 70 72, Kieran Vincent 72 70
143 – Gerhard Pepler 74 69
143 – Merrick Bremner 66 77, Joe Knox 70 73, Haydn Porteous 72 71, Herman Loubser 72 71, Robson Chinhoi 69 74, Rigardt Albertse 70 73, Jean Hugo 73 70, Jacques P de Villiers 71 72
144 – Visitor Mapwanya 74 70
144 – Pierre Viallaneix 74 70, James Mack 69 75, Oliver Goldhill 71 73, Xander Basson 71 73, Conner Mackenzie 74 70, Benjamin Van Wyk 73 71, Eric Wowor 73 71, Luis Carrera 68 76, Brandon Pieters 70 74, Jacques Blaauw 72 72, Jaco Van Zyl 71 73, Stals Swart 71 73, Allen John 66 78, Otto Van Buynder 70 74
Missed the cut:-
145 – Toto Thimba Jnr 75 70
145 – Jack Davidson 74 71, Agustin Errazuriz 71 74, Neil Schietekat 72 73, Stephen Ferreira 68 77, Rhys West 75 70, Jordan Burnand 72 73, Martin Rohwer 74 71, Hannes Strooh 77 68, Luke Brown 71 74
146 – Hennie Otto 74 72
146 – Stuart Krog 70 76, Lucky Ayisa 70 76, Jack Allard 74 72, Dayne Moore 72 74, Njoroge Kibugu 72 74, Justin Walters 71 75, Trevor Fisher Jnr 78 68, Malcolm Mitchell 69 77, Daniel Cronje 74 72
147 – Thomas Sinclair 72 75
147 – Adam Breen 75 72, Kyle De Beer 70 77, Matthew Spacey 76 71, Clive Nguru 69 78, Keegan Mclachlan 70 77, Adilson Da Silva 70 77
148 – David Amm 74 74
148 – Tristen Strydom 74 74, Dillon Germshuys 74 74, Thomas Spreadborough 73 75, Paul Adam Chidale 76 72, Jacquin Hess 76 72
149 – Vuyisani Makama 73 76
149 – Keanu Pestana 76 73, Ryan Cairns 71 78, Sydney Joseph Wemba 77 72, Shaahid Mahmed 75 74, Celestin Nsanzuwera 77 72, Liam Grehan 70 79, Ronald Rugumayo 71 78, Charl Barnard 74 75, Kian Rose 74 75, Carlos Bustos 78 71
150 – Braydon Amm 75 75
150 – Ignatius Mketekete 74 76, Tonderai Masunga 74 76, Joe Sullivan 74 76, Tyrone Ryan 75 75, Davison Elijah 79 71, Greg Snow 74 76
151 – Hayden Griffiths 76 75
151 – Mitch Phigeland 75 76, Louis Albertse 73 78, Thabiso Ngcobo 71 80
152 – Bradley Kulaisi 74 78
152 – Morris Schiefner 78 74, Promise Sombreiro 74 78
153 – Victor Kachepatsonga 78 75
153 – Liberty Gumisa 78 75, Ricky Hendler 78 75, Ethan Smith 76 77, Pierre Pellegrin 77 76, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 77 76
154 – Mohammad Rauf Mandhu 78 76
154 – Albert Venter 76 78, Astin Arthur 75 79
155 – Shaydon Johnson 79 76
155 – Tawana Mangoma 79 76
156 – Willy Deus 77 79
157 – Nyasha Muyambo 78 79
157 – Biggie Chibvuri 84 73, Tristan Leonard 79 78, Anyway Katembenuka 77 80
160 – Jordan Duminy 79 81
161 – Tristin Galant 79 82
161 – Tariro November 79 82, Blessing Gondo 80 81
162 – Akil Yousuf 80 82
162 – Simon Murungweni 85 77
166 – Shepard Chiwaya 80 86
Article Link: GolfRSA amateur van der Vyver in the mix