Redmans 64 moves him into Lombard lead
[Sunday, May 19, 2019 07:45:43]He has only had three top-10 finishes in the last three-and-a-half years, but Jake Redman took a two-stroke lead after the second round on Saturday of the 54-hole Lombard Insurance Classic at the Royal Swazi Spa Country Club.
He carded eight-under-par 64 to move to 15-under-par ahead of the final round, giving him a two-shot edge over Doug McGuigan. There were five players a further shot back on 12-under-par – Keith Horne, Ruan Conradie, Clinton Grobler, Thriston Lawrence and Toto Thimba.
Redman added his 64 to an opening 65, making 11 birdies along the way. “It’s been a very long time since I’ve been at the top of the leaderboard, so I’m very happy about the way the last two days have gone,” he said. “Obviously, I’m very happy with the round, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
“I’m not really thinking of a number tomorrow. I’m going to need to make birdies because the other guys are also going to make birdies on this course. I reckon by the time I tee off, I’m already going to be behind. I’ve just got to keep pressing and keep doing my thing.”
Interspersed between that rush of birdies were three bogeys, only one of which came on a par-five – the 17th. “Birdies on the par-fives certainly do play a big role in a decent score here, especially if you can pick up the big birdies – eagles,” he said. “But I don’t think I know of a course where it’s not important to pick up shots on the par-fives.”
The low scores have been something that he has battled to put together in consecutive rounds, but hard work is paying off. “I think all-round, my game has been pretty consistent,” said Redman. “The short game has been good, the putting has been beautiful, the iron-play has been solid as has been the wedge-play… driving – I’ve hit one or two sort of iffy drives. That hasn’t really been anything in between. It’s either been not great or it’s been perfect. I maybe just need to get the driver a bit straighter tomorrow and that would obviously help a lot.”
McGuigan also signed for a 64 – one of four players to do so in the second round. His was a bogey-free effort, and a result of going back to a putter he used in his last victory on the Sunshine Tour in September 2017.
Horne was one of the other players to make 64, while Conradie, Grobler and Thimba each signed for a 67. Lawrence, who shared the lead after the first round at nine-under, carded a three-under 69 in the second round.
They are all going to have to chase Redman in the final round on a course that can deliver low scores. He’s looking forward to the challenge. “I’m excited for tomorrow, but I’m feeling it a bit because I haven’t been in this position for a long time,” he said. “I’m certainly looking forward to the day and I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Scores:
129 - Jake Redman 65 64
131 - Doug McGuigan 67 64
132 - Keith Horne 68 64, Ruan Conradie 65 67, Clinton Grobler 65 67, Thriston Lawrence 63 69, Toto Thimba 65 67
133 - Jaco Ahlers 64 69, Aubrey Beckley 64 69
134 - Jacques Blaauw 63 71, Hennie Otto 66 68, Titch Moore 70 64
135 - Neil Schietekat 68 67, Estiaan Conradie 66 69, Franklin Manchest 67 68, Fredrik From 68 67
136 - Vaughn Groenewald 69 67, Keenan Davidse 69 67, Ruan de Smidt 68 68
137 - Heinrich Bruiners 67 70, Steve Surry 68 69, Jared Harvey 70 67, Stefan Wears-Taylor 70 67, Pieter Moolman 68 69, Chris Cannon 70 67, Luke Jerling 69 68
138 - Combrinck Smit 71 67, Martin Rohwer 71 67, Jake Roos 70 68, Anton Haig 70 68
139 - Derick Petersen 72 67, Andrew van der Knaap 70 69, Merrick Bremner 69 70, Jaco Prinsloo 69 70, Daniel van Tonder 69 70, Herman Loubser 70 69, CJ du Plessis 69 70
140 - Luke Joy 68 72, Lyle Rowe 69 71, David McIntyre 69 71, James Pennington 72 68, Marco de Beer 69 71, Chris Swanepoel 74 66, Jonathan Agren 69 71
Missed the cut:
141 - Adilson Da Silva 74 67, Daniel Greene 70 71, Michael Hollick 68 73, Jean Hugo 72 69, Breyten Meyer 70 71
142 - Wynand Dingle 75 67, Duane Keun 71 71, Ockie Strydom 72 70, Madalitso Muthiya 71 71, Christiaan Basson 70 72, Callum Mowat 73 69, Tristen Strydom 71 71, Jacquin Hess 71 71, Teaghan Gauche 72 70, Colin Nel 71 71, Andre Nel 69 73, Tyrone Ryan 72 70, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 73 69
143 - MJ Viljoen 66 77, Stephen Ferreira 73 70, Yubin Jung 70 73, Theunis Bezuidenhout 75 68
144 - Bennie van der Merwe 70 74, Teddy Mathebula 74 70, Keelan van Wyk 70 74
145 - Louis Albertse 75 70, Jason Froneman 72 73, Dylan Mostert 74 71, Rhys West 72 73
146 - Ruan Botha 72 74, Benjamin Follett-Smith 74 72, Riekus Nortje 73 73
147 - Philip Geerts 76 71, Jbe' Kruger 76 71, Keelan Africa 79 68
149 - Mark Williams 72 77, Wallie Coetsee 74 75
150 - Jacques P de Villiers 73 77
152 - Sean Bradley 76 76, Rourke van der Spuy 72 80