Trevor Fisher Jr shot to a shared lead with a record nine-under 62 second round at the Joburg Open at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club on Friday.
Tied with fellow South African Richard Sterne, who shot a 65, Fisher leads countryman George Coetzee by three strokes. South Africans Keith Horne and Charl Schwartzel, as well as Chilean Felipe Aguilar, were five behind.
The 33-year-old Fisher had good rhythm from the start with an eagle on the par-five second, followed by birdies on the third and ninth, and five more on the inward nine.
“It was a great day out there. Everything just happened for me and I sank the putts I needed to sink. I was happy and patient with myself — walked slow and did everything slow — and it was just a good day,” he said.
He was cautiously proud of the lowest round ever at the Joburg Open, co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the local Sunshine Tour.
“It’s nice to have the record, but I’m going to focus on my game and not worry about what everyone else is doing. It’s just a number — I’ve got to go out there and still try to make birdies,” the reigning Sunshine Tour Players’ Player of the Year said.
Sterne held onto his overnight lead with a second bogey-free round in a row, staying in the run for a win after a close second at the Dubai Desert Classic the previous weekend.
“You would like to stay up there and give yourself a chance come Sunday, but it’s not so easy being up there from day one,” the 31-year-old said. “You’ve got guys there who’ve won a few tournaments and obviously Charl [Schwartzel] is there and George Coetzee — he hasn’t won, but he’s due. It’s a long way from over — we’re only halfway.”
Each competitor plays one round over the West course and one over the longer, more challenging East course, where the final two rounds are being staged.
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