David Ashley lurks again on IGT Summer Swing
RUIMSIG – David Ashley fired a superb six-under-par 66 to finish two strokes behind overnight pacesetter Michael Palmer in the Jeandre Fourie Classic on 24 February.
Amateur David Ashley is taking a leaf out of Asian Tour ace Anirban Lahiri’s book and aiming for back-to-back victories on the IGT Tour this week.
Just six days after he claimed a maiden victory on the country’s premier development tur, Ashley is hunting his second podium finish in the IGT Tour’s Summer Swing at Ruimsig Country Club.
The 22-year-old Joburg golfer fired a superb six-under-par 66 to finish two strokes behind overnight pacesetter Michael Palmer in the Jeandre Fourie Classic on 24 February.
But the GFG Academy player knows he could have shared the 36-hole lead.
Ashley began the second round three strokes off the pace, but closed the gap with birdies at the second and fourth holes.
He notched a pair of birdies at the eighth and ninth to turn in four under and dipped to seven under with more gains at the 10th, 13th and 14th. A double bogey at the 15th put paid to his charge, though.
“I was going along nicely, but I just didn’t commit to my shot at the 15th,” Ashley said.
“I hit it straight into the water and just messed up from there.”
Ashley parred the next two holes and birdied the 18th to recover a shot and put himself in contention for the final round.
“I hit a good tee shot, but my approach drifted right of the green,” he said.
“I didn’t fly the first chip far enough, but I holed the second flop shot for the birdie. I’m in a good position for the final round, but Michael is playing really great golf, so it definitely won’t be a walk in the park.”
The young gun could have his job cut out to catch Palmer.
The Oklahoma City University graduate fired an opening 66 and stayed the course with a one-bogey five under 67 in the second round to lead the pack at 11-under-par 133.
Duane Keun (70) and Conway Kunneke (67) are four off the pace, while Gareth Akers (70), Bryn Flanagan (71) and Naithen Moore (71) share fifth on three under 141.
The third event in the IGT Tour’s Summer Swing has been dedicated to IGT Tour player, Jeandre Fourie.
Fourie fractured his C6 vertebrae in a zip-line accident on the weekend and was transported to the trauma unit at Milpark Hospital, where he underwent surgery to save his spine on Tuesday.
The IGT Tour is assisting the family to raise R500 000 to cover the cost of the surgery, as Fourie does not have medical aid.
