Irishman in first place at Country Club
Ulsterman Dermot McElroy experienced a hot run on Wednesday, February 5, to take a two-shot lead at the South African Amateur Stroke Play, at Benoni Country Club.
Aided by regular Sunshine Tour caddie Njabulo Myende, McElroy showed his enjoyment of the 6 703m layout at the Country Club, as he knocked home eight birdies, including two sets of three, and dropped just a single shot to produce a sizzling 65 and take the lead at 10-under-par 134.
The amateur prospect from Northern Ireland said: “I struck the ball extremely well and my short game was on form, too, but when you have a caddie who can even read the spike marks, you pretty much can’t go wrong.”
The Irishman will join Bradley Neil, from Scotland, and South Africa’s Stefan Cronje in the final match, on Thursday, after the Scotsman fired a 66 and Nigel’s Cronje a 67 to get to eight under.
South Africa’s Jason Smith and Paul Elissalde, from France, also took route 66 to finish three shots back, while the Swiss pair of Joel Girrbach (70) and Edouard Amacher (65) are tied a further stroke back, on six under, with overnight leader Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
The local favourite had to draw on all his powers of recovery to eliminate five bogeys for a 74, but McElroy is certain the SA number one will be close to the top at the end of round three.
“I played with Christiaan in the final match at the Free State Stroke Play, for 36 holes, so I had a front row seat to his victory,” he said.
“He is an incredibly talented player, and one bad round means nothing. He will fight his way back to the top.”
It seems that there is still a long way to go and a lot of quality golf to be played.
Benoni Country Club’s Frederick Dorfling missed the cut on Wednesday, and Ebotse Golf and Country Estate’s Kevin Smith was tied on 64, on two over par.
