Solid front nine takes Mclachlan to the top at Reading

Keegan Mclachlan produced a scintillating four-under-par 67 in the second round of the Altron Big Easy Tour tournament at Reading Country Club which took his overall total to nine-under-par and two shot clear of the field on Wednesday.

A double bogey on the par-three fifth was eclipsed by the five birdies he made on that front stretch and while his homeward stretch was less eventful, it was solid enough to see the Silver Lakes Golf Club player assume the top position ahead of the final round in Alberton.

“I played solidly today because I got off to a good start,” Mclachlan said. “I made a silly double on the fifth hole but I managed to bounce back with two birdies.  The main thing there for me was good ball striking and I made a few putts from 10 feet or longer, which helped a lot.

“The back nine was a bit frustrating because I hit the ball similarly to how I have been hitting it but I just didn’t make any putts. I knew there was only one par-five on the back and I had to play smart to keep the big numbers off the card.”

While his two-shot cushion is good enough ahead of the final round, Mclachlan will have to be at his best to ward off the challengers in the final round. Leading the chasing pack on a total of seven-under is DK Kim. He fired in an untainted six-under 65 on moving day to ascend to second on the leaderboard and place within touching distance of Mclachlan’s lead.

Kim started on the back nine and made an eagle and two birdies there before making two more birdies on the front nine for a round of 65.

Mclachlan is not fazed, however, and is clear on what needs to happen if he is to claim victory here on Thursday.

“The aim is to play the same golf I have been playing,” he noted after his round. “You just have to believe that you are going to win and then give it your best. Golf is a funny game because today you can shoot a low score and then tomorrow things change. But, I am confident and I play to win.”

Ebotse Golf Links member, Aneurin Gounden grafted to a round of 70 on Wednesday, which took his total for the week to six-under and three shots off the pace. He is third on the leaderboard while Paul Boshoff’s bogey-free 67 catapulted him to fourth on the leaderboard at five-under.

Overnight leader, Rigardt Albertse, Allister de Kock, Andre De Decker and Therion Nel tie fifth on a tournament total of four under-par.

The Altron Big Easy Tour was formed in 2011 as a developmental tour of the Sunshine Tour and continues to attract some of the big-name players from the main circuit.