One by one the South Africans departed the Rinkven International Golf Club as the field was whittled down to eight players at the Belgian Knockout.
Dean Burmester, Louis de Jager and JC Ritchie all advanced past the round of 64 on Saturday as the innovative format produced thrills, spills and everything in between.
Burmester birdied two of his last three holes against Grant Forrest to tie the Scot at two-under. The South African progressed thanks to a superior 36-hole score as he joined his countrymen in the next round.
Ritchie was one-over through four, but flew in with three birdies in his next four holes to ease past home favorite Kevin Hesbois.
He was joined in the next phase by De Jager,who made nine straight pars to stride past England’s Tom Murray (+3).
Justin Walters and Haydn Porteous were eliminated after being pipped at the spot. Walters bogeyed the last to lose by one after his opponent, Daniel Gavins, came home in birdie, birdie, par. Gavins then sent De Jager packing with four birdies in his nine hole run to win by three.
Porteous was blown out – by just one shot – after Hugo Leon made four birdies in a row from the fifth. Leon then eliminated Ritchie despite ending with two bogeys.
Burmester was lucky not to crash out after a bogey on the last against Alex Levy. He proceeded by one, but fell at the next hurdle to Gregory Havret after a double at the fourth.
