After Friday’s significant low scores, the Bushwillow course at the Randpark Golf Club didn’t prove as easy to play for Branden Grace, who concluded with a second round score of 70 at the 2020 SA Open, writes ANDRE HUISAMEN.
Grace managed a brilliant start on Thursday when he played a 64 at the Firethorn course, but Friday’s conditions made it a tad difficult for the 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge champion to shoot another low round.
‘I’m a little bit disappointed. There is no easy golf course between the two and today the wind was really tough out there. The difficult thing from that golf course (Bushwillow) is that it’s never really in or down, it’s always left to right or right to left,’ said Grace.
Despite the challenges faced by the wind, Grace, who has never won the SA Open before, remains quite happy and satisfied with the position he is in at the halfway mark of the competition.
‘I grinded really well so I am really pleased with that but I didn’t really think the way I played I would shoot 3 or 4-under but after two days I’m still in there and I’m exactly where I need to be coming into the weekend.’
Having played both courses before the business end of the competition gets underway on Saturday, Grace believes the greens are the real challenge in this format where more than one course is used.
‘It is tough to adapt to the greens because the greens on the other course (Firethorn) are a little bit quicker and firmer than the Bushwillow ones where it was a bit softer and slower. As soon as you start forcing and trying to make things happen then it can backfire pretty quickly,’ said Grace.
He is, however, not too bothered by the Sunshine Tour’s decision to play such a prestigious competition across two golf courses and reckons as long as the competition sets the standard for South African golfers to showcase their talent it will remain the core event of the year.
‘I am just thankful we have an event. It is great that we have the SA Open back on the roster so if they want to play it across three golf course so be it. If we have the event on the schedule then we are all very happy to compete and we are all here to win the prestigious event.’
