Lupini launches ahead, but Timba in touch at IGT Benoni Photo – Robbie Lupini; credit CJ du Plooy BENONI, 18 March 2014 – Boosted by superb approach play, Robbie Lupini overturned a one shot deficit in the second round of the IGT Series Benoni to take control at Benoni Country Club on Tuesday. The Rivonia golfer carded a solid five-under-par 67 to move to 11 under, but Lupini will be wary of Toto Thimba Jnr in the final round after the joint overnight leader stayed in touch with a 70 to finish two shots back. Lupini completed the front nine in 32 strokes after collecting birdies at the 10th, 14th, 16th and 18th. The 31-year-old sandwiched birdie number five between bogeys at the third and sixth and put himself in the ideal spot to notch his fifth IGT Tour win with an eagle finish at the par-five ninth. “I really like the course,” Lupini said. “The fairways are quite narrow, but it’s not too tight and you can afford to leak a few shots here and there. “The greens are great, because the ball stops quite quickly and doesn’t run through. There are a few short par-fours to capitalise on. Although the par-fives are generally tricky off the tee, the approach shots set up well for scoring. “I battled after Qualifying School to get my rhythm going, but it feels like I’m back in the groove again and ready for action. I’ll just have to keep my eye on Toto, because he is running hot at the moment.” Thimba is still riding of confidence after reaching a play-off at the IGT Series ERPM last week and will draw on seven years’ worth of Sunshine Tour experience to help him claim his third pro title. “I didn’t move around the course as well as I did in the first round, but I still managed to take care of three bogeys on my card with five birdies,” the Pretoria golfer said. “That’s what matters most at the moment. I’m feeling really good about my game, and I’m definitely going to go for it.” Meanwhile Huyn Park from Korea fired a 66 to share the lowest round honours with Sunshine Tour pro Tyrone Ferreira and top SA amateur Zander Lombard. The Korean’s effort left him one shot ahead of Dean ORiley and Pieter Kruger, who both signed for 69 to tie for fourth on seven under. Ferreira and Lombard are a further shot back at six under with Wynand Dingle (70), Haydn Porteous (70), Tokkie van den Berg (68), Portugal’s Antonio Rosado and Mike Downes from England, who both returned 67s. SECOND ROUND SCORES Herewith the second round scores from the IGT Series Benoni, played at the par-72 Benoni Country Club on Tuesday, 18 March 2014; all competitors RSA unless otherwise specified and amateurs = (AMA) 133 - Roberto Lupini 66 67 135 - Toto Thimba Jnr 65 70 136 - Hyun Park KOR 70 66 137 - Dean ORiley 68 69, Pieter Kruger 68 69 138 - Wynand Dingle 68 70, Tyrone Ferreira 72 66, Haydn Porteous 68 70, Tokkie van den Berg 70 68, Zander Lombard (AM) 72 66, Antonio Rosado POR 71 67, Mike Downes ENG 71 67 139 - Brett Liddle 67 72, Steven Ferreira 70 69, Ph Mcintyre 69 70, Michael Scholz 69 70, Johary Raveloarison 68 71, Ruan Huysamen NAM 65 74, Coert Groenewald 70 69 140 - Shaun Smith 70 70, Johan de Beer 71 69, Otto van Greunen 71 69 141 - Shaun Norris 72 69, Rhys West 72 69, Rourke Van der Spuy 71 70, Francois Coetzee 67 74, Ockert Strydom 71 70 142 - Ryan Gosling 72 70, Jacqui Akers (AM) 73 69, Jason Froneman (AM) 70 72, Brandon Taylor USA 72 70 143 - Ryan Tipping 72 71, Vincent Schaffler (AM) 73 70, Lean Boezaart 72 71, Juan Langeveld 72 71 144 - Henry Featherstone ENG 74 70, Ludovic Bax MUS (AM) 70 74, Herman Minnie 74 70 145 - Andrew Light 74 71, Dayne Moore ZAM 73 72, Louis De Jager 71 74, Bryandrew Roelofsz 70 75, Danie Pretorius 70 75, John McClean NIR 75 70 146 - Peter Wilson ENG 78 68, TJ Bekker 69 77, Terence Boardman 77 69 147 - Jason Diab (AM) 74 73, Murray Smit 74 73, Neil Cheetham ENG 74 73, Rae Mackie 70 77, Reghard Neethling (AM) 72 75 148 - Graham van den Berg (AM) 77 71, Clinton Cheia (AM) 77 71, Wesley Cheia (AM) 75 73, Slade Fick (AM) 75 73, Werner Van Niekerk 74 74, Will Mathews USA 71 77 149 - Jerry Steyn 71 78, Jacques Prinsloo 77 72, Ted Hendriks 74 75, Andi Dill (AM) 76 73, Hano van der Walt 77 72, Eduard Van Den Berg (AM) 74 75, Sam Botham ENG 77 72 150 - Tjaart Van Wyk (AM) 76 74 Missed the cut:- 151 - Callum Mowat 74 77, Joubert Van Eeden (AM) 76 75, Leon Scheepers (AM) 76 75, FG Dorfling (AM) 83 68, David Lamprecht (AM) 73 78 152 - Rob Menzies ENG 78 74, Gareth Akers (AM) 70 82, Ruan van Blerk NAM 81 71, Dwayne Coetzee 80 72, Robert Herselman (AM) 80 72 153 - Hanbo Lee 72 81, Amerigo Renieri (AM) 76 77, Frans Strydom 72 81, Raymond Mathonsi SWZ 76 77, JC Ritchie 79 74 154 - Niel Meyer (AM) 79 75 155 - Alwyn Vorster 76 79, Pierre Viviers 78 77 156 - JC van Dommelen 74 82 157 - Adriel Poonan (AM) 79 78, Brett Cocking (AM) 81 76, Owen Grobler 78 79, Christiaan Pretorius 79 78 158 - Gian Scarola 85 73, Carlos Arroyo (AM) 82 76 159 - Wayde Mostert 79 80 160 - Phillip Montgomery 81 79, Russell Jaques ENG (AM) 80 80 161 - Shaun van Tonder 79 82, JP Schmidt (AM) 84 77 164 - Brendan Blake (AM) 84 80 165 - Christopher Hardy MUS (AM) 85 80 WDN - Gustav Erasmus 90 WDN RTD - Gideon Pienaar 71 RTD
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 19:59:23 +0000
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