BIELLA, Italy (7 September 2016) – Southern Cape’s Martin Vorster will want to make the most of moving day at Golf Club Biella le Betulle today after he cracked the top 10 in round two of the 11th Reply Italian International Under-16 Championship in Biella, Italy.
(Left to right: Yurav Premlall, Martin Vorster, Andre van Dyk and Ayden Senger)
The GolfRSA National Squad player returned a one-under-par 72 to tie for seventh on even par 146 and he is well within striking distance of 36-hole leader Lorenzo Bruzzone from Italy, who leads the field at four under 142.
Compatriot Andre van Dyk from North West lost a little traction in round two. The South African Golf Development Board player opened with a strong 70, but slipped to one over one over after returning a 77 in round two.
Yurav Premlall from Ekurhuleni also made an upwards move with a 73 to finish inside the top 20 at two over 148, but the final member of the team, Ayden Senger from Western Province, continued to battle with the challenging layout. The Durbanville junior missed the cut after carding 77.
“The mood in the group was a little subdued as we left for the course this morning,” said GolfRSA Golf Operations Manager Eden Thompson.
“After a late night due to the bus schedules on day one, and an early 5 am start on day two, the boys were a little more aware of their standings in the event and quickly got into their warmup routines and pre-round preparation when we reached the course.
“Ayden was first up and got off to a good start with par at the very difficult par three 10th, but an errant tee shot on 11 led to a lost ball and a double bogey. Another bogey on 12 left him chasing. He made birdie on 15, but followed with a bogey at 14. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to shake off the occasional mistake which led to higher levels of frustration and eventually fell three shy of the cut. He will be supporting Andre as his bag man in round three to continue learning from this experience.
“Andre made a good start with a bunker save on 10 for par, but once again battled at 15 and four-putted for a double bogey six. This put him on the back foot and he needed to fight hard to make up the shots given away. A poor shot on 17 led to another bogey. When he three-putted from two metres at 18 (his ninth), we realized he would be fighting all day! His back nine was a mixed bag, but despite better ball striking, he signed off with a 77.
“Yurav got off to a great start with par on 10 and he holed a bunker shot on 11 for eagle. He was two under with pars at 12, 13 and 14, a bogey at 15 and pars at 16 and 17. Unfortunately he leaked his tee shot at 18 left. He had to chip out sideways and needed two more shots to reach the green. He two-putted for bogey and turned one under. He bogeyed six but birdied seven on his back nine for a very solid 73.
“Martin pulled his tee shot on 10 to start with a bogey, but bounced back with birdie at 12 and parred his way to the turn. A birdie to start his back nine got things going again, but after chipping it close at three, he two-putted for bogey. He holed a huge 35-footer for birdie at the eighth to get back to level and birdied nine to finish one under.
“All three boys will be looking to make a move in round three to get themselves inside the top 10 ahead of Friday’s final round.”
South Africa’s second round 149 saw the side finish in third place on 293 alongside Switzerland in the 36-hole Nations Cup. Italy took the honours on 287, with England second on 288.
