Drysdale by one at Joburg

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Last updated: 9th January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Drysdale by one at Joburg

Drysdale: Q-School visits

Joburg Open
Second round leaders
GB&Ire unless stated
-11 D Drysdale
-10 O Bekker (SA)
-10 M Hoey
-9 A McLardy (SA)
-9 D Willett

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Scotland's David Drysdale shot a flawless second round 66 to move into a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Joburg Open.

Drysdale's 131 two-round total was one better than South Africa's Oliver Bekker, who carded a six-under-par 65 for 10-under, and Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland, who had three birdies in four holes from the 12th in a bogey-free 68.

The 33-year-old from Edinburgh - who had a 65 on Thursday - has not dropped a shot in 36 holes at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington club.

Drysdale has yet to win on the European Tour and has battled his way through Q-School for the last two years to retain his card.

Drysdale said: "I'm very pleased, especially after playing well yesterday with a good eagle finish, which was nice, and just kept it going today, so overall very happy.

"I played well all day (yesterday) and had good chances on the front nine and then chipped in with an eagle at the end on the back nine, it was just a little bit of justice really I think to finish. But so far, so good."

Hoey, who began the competition with a 64 after missing the cut last year, was one of the players affected by a near two-hour rain delay during the early afternoon - but he was more than happy to wait.

"It was just perfect at the end there," reflected the Ballymoney-born golfer. "There was no wind, which was probably an advantage because it was quite hot earlier on. The weather was perfect."

Bekker, who held the lead for most of the morning, said: "I don't think I could have had a better draw for this tournament because I was off first in the afternoon on the east (course) getting the good greens and I didn't have to worry about thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Conservative

"I didn't have a good finish at the end of last year, so I'm just trying to manage myself better on the golf course by cutting out the bogeys, maybe not playing as aggressively and trying a little more conservative shots and playing within myself."

Joint overnight leaders Swede Steven Jeppesen and Trevor Fisher Jnr struggled all day, with the former carding a five-over-par 76, while South African Fisher slumped to a 79 that included a seven at the par four sixth.

Defending champion Richard Sterne, who is bidding for a third consecutive European Tour title, bounced back from his opening-day 71 with a fine round of 66 - five under overall.

He said: "I got off to a slow start this morning, but then birdied five and six, which put me in a better frame of mind. I knew I just had to stay patient because there are a lot of birdies out there.

"Anytime that you're within seven or eight on the weekend, you're in with a chance."

Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen shot a 68 to move to four under for the championship.