Johannesburg – Wallie Coetsee reached a 24-point total to share the halfway lead with Zimbabwean Mark Williams at the Investec Royal Swazi Open on Thursday.
“This is my year, I feel good this week and the tournament really starts now that the cut has come,” Coetsee said.
“Who knows what can happen this week?”
It is not the first time the 40-year-old golfer has been in contention at the Swazi Open, and in 2004 an unfortunate double bogey prevented him from taking victory.
“I gave this tournament away to Nic Henning a few years ago, I was leading and made a double on the 18th to come third, so this week it just feels right,” Coetsee said.
Williams started his second round on the 10th hole and had to dig deep after carding bogeys at the 16th and 17th.
The 29-year-old hung on until he was ready to fire, and at the fourth he began a run of four consecutive birdies, which counted for eight points and earned him a share of the lead.
His six top-10 finishes attest to his mettle, and the Bulawayo local will have victory on his mind as he faces the next two rounds in Swaziland.
Jake Redman retained his hold on second place with a second round of eight points, and was joined by Jaco Ahlers and overnight leader Michael Hollick.
The trio finished on 23 points apiece, and kept the leaders well within their sights.
The leaderboard was jam-packed, with Ulrich van den Berg, PH McIntyre, James Kamte and Ruan de Smidt sharing sixth on 21 points, while Jean Hugo took up 10th place on 20 points. – Sapa