BEIJING, 9 October 2014 – Louis Oosthuizen Junior Golf Academy member Martin Vorster claimed a share of the lead at the Minsheng Beijing Junior Open on another fortuitous day for South in Beijing, China on Thursday.
Competing in the Boys 10-13 age group, Vorster trailed first round pacesetter, Woo Young Cho from South Korea, by one stroke after an opening 70 at the Tian’ An Golf Club.
The 12-year-old Mossel Bay golfer fired a three-under-par 69 in the second round to grab a share of the lead on five-under-par 139 with Cho, who returned a 70.
The pacesetters have a six shot cushion on their nearest challenger.
Fellow Southern Cape golfer Christo Lamprecht finished sixth overall at seven-over-par 151.
The Outeniqua Primary scholar carded a 76, but his score could have been three shots better. Lamprecht has been struggling with the driver and a wayward tee shot at the par-four ninth resulted in a triple bogey.
Without the seven on his card, the 12-year-old from George would have been fourth at the 36-hole mark.
Meanwhile Herman Loubser and JP Cooper also made positive strides at Tian’ An.
Boland’s Loubser had four bogeys, but offset the damage with three birdies to sign for a 73 and break into the top five in the Boys 14-17 age group.
The reigning Nomads SA Boys U-15 champion finished at three over par, eight shots behind the two Chinese leaders at 139.
Gauteng North’s Cooper dropped three shots, but two gains saw him finish with a 73.
The six shot improvement on his opening 79 lifted the Wingate Park golfer to joint 11th on eight-over-par 152.
“The local juniors hail from the Beijing University Golf School, Beijing Shichahai Sport School and Beijing Youth Golf Association and had play to two qualifying rounds to make the field, while the international countries were invited to send their top juniors to compete in this prestigious junior championship,” said South African Golf Association Integration Manager, Eden Thompson, who accompanied the players to Beijing.
“Our juniors are getting a fantastic education here in China, competing against top juniors from China, the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and Malaysia.
“It is really exciting that players continue to improve as they get to know this challenging layout and we hope they will continue their progress in the final round.”
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.
