Homa, Pavon lead way as NGC heads towards thrilling final two rounds

The 2023 Nedbank Golf Challenge is heading for a thrilling conclusion following another tough day of scoring around the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City.

No less than 12 players are four shots off the leaders, Max Homa of the USA and France’s Mattieu Pavon, after the second round on Friday.

Homa and Pavon are on 10 under par at the halfway mark, with the American shooting a 68 on Friday to go with his 66 on Thursday. Pavon went round the course in 66 shots on Friday and 68 on Thursday.

A third player, England’s Dan Bradbury, would have made it three at the top of the leaderboard had he not bogeyed his final hole, the 18th, on Friday, but after a topsy-turvy day he is just one shot back, at nine under par, after a 69.

Sitting two shots off the pace is Nicolai Hojgaard and Thorbjorn Olesen after posting 70 and 66 respectively on Friday.

SA players

South Africa’s charge is being led by Hennie du Plessis, who has played on the LIV Golf Tour before. After opening his account with a 70 on Thursday, he posted a 66 on Friday after making five birdies, an eagle at the par-5 ninth, and two bogeys for a 67 to be seven under par, three off the pace.

The next best-placed South African is 2017 winner, Branden Grace, who is two under par, eight shots back.

Thriston Lawrence had a day to forget with a 73, to go with his opening 71, and is well off the pace.

Louis de Jager (three over par), Zander Lombard (four over par) and Ockie Strydom (five over par) also appear to be out of the running.

Homa’s American Ryder Cup team-mate, Justin Thomas, who is playing in South Africa for the first time, is very much back in the hunt after a disappointing opening day 70, having carded a 66 on Friday to be six under par and four off the leaders. He had seven birdies and one bogey in his round.

Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood is also still in the mix after recording a 67 in round two to go with his 71 on Thursday, to also be six under par.

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