Roelof Craig holds a two-shot lead at the halfway mark of the Africa Amateur Championship at Leopard Creek after carding a second consecutive four-under 68.
The South African rolled in five birdies in a confident display to finish Thursday’s second round on an eight-under-par total of 136 and take a two-stroke advantage over fellow countryman Bryan Newman and highest-ranked player in the field Michael Karanga of Kenya.
“It was a very good, solid round today, I didn’t really make mistakes,” said Craig. “The highlights of the round are probably the birdie on the 11th which got me going and then I had a great up and down on the 13th. I actually had a terrible tee shot on the 18th and somehow made a great birdie.
“Yeah, it gives me a lot of confidence. I definitely think I can win this.”
Newman once again cashed in on the back nine, following up on Wednesday’s display to pick up birdies on the 12th and 13th before making three-in-a-row on the closing holes to post another 69. Karanga mixed five birdies with three bogeys for a round of 70 and both players now sit on six-under-par 138.
“I feel great. I had a really good, sweet finish so I’m really happy,” said Newman.
“It gives me a lot of confidence. I’ve been playing well on the back nine the last two days. Yesterday I shot five under on the back nine, today four under. I felt I was going to do well.
“I’m just going to try and keep doing what I’m doing. Maybe make a few less bogeys on the front nine, but looking forward to the weekend.”
“I’m very happy with my performance today and over the last two rounds. I’m still in contention,” said Karanga.
“I shot four under and two under today. My target is to go even lower tomorrow and try and shoot six under. In the days I’ve played from the practice round up to now I’ve learned something on the golf course. As I said yesterday, just keep the ball in play and you can score.”
South African pairing Jack Buchanan and Johndre Ludick sit one shot further back on five-under-par 139, while overnight leader Tanaka Chatora of Zimbabwe slipped back after a 75 to sit on four under par going into the weekend.
The cut fell at 15 over par with the top 40 players and ties progressing.
Gia Raad, who finished runner-up in last year’s Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational and has her sights on going one step further in this year’s event, holds a three-shot lead over Bobbi Brown going into tomorrow’s final round.
The 17-year-old followed up yesterday’s level-par 72 with a fine three-under-par 69 that included four birdies.
“I’m really happy, I played some really solid golf,” said Raad. “My favourite birdie today was on the 14th. I didn’t hit a good drive and so didn’t have a lot of green to work with. I was in the rough and just hit a pitching wedge to five feet from the hole. I was pretty happy with that one.
“I think three shots is a good lead. I’m not going to do anything fancy tomorrow, just going to try to play the same as I did today, take it one shot at a time and see how it goes.”
Photo: R&A via Getty Images
