Boshoff hangs on as Joubert joins lead

Paul Boshoff’s second round 68 ensured he remained at the top of the leaderboard while Richard Joubert’s second successive 66 catapulted him to a share of the lead ahead of the final round at CMR Golf Club.

Boshoff made three birdies and an eagle en route to his 68 while Joubert’s round was characterised by six birdies, an eagle and two dropped shots.

“I think I actually played better today,” noted Boshoff after his round. “I turned four-under; missed a couple of putts but played some nice golf. I’ve been playing nicely and I’ve been somewhere in contention for the last four or five weeks.

“I just try to do the same thing over and over and see what the score gives. It’s obviously easier said than done but that’s my plan for tomorrow; hit fairways and greens and keep making those putts. This is a course where a lot of birdies are made and to make those you need to putt it well.

“This course is forgiving off the tee but hitting good tee shots does make a massive difference around here. There’s not a lot of trouble; you’re not going to find yourself in big trouble but off the tees but hitting fairways makes the second shot easier and thus making the putts shorter and easier. And, obviously, you need to play the par-fives well because that’s where you score around here.”

A new putter, coupled with great iron shots, helped Joubert to a round of 66 to share the lead with Boshoff.

“Today, I made two stupid drops but I hit the ball really well,” said Joubert. I started to find something small with the irons today. It’s good to see because I have been working really hard on my game the last three months and it’s starting to show.

“The course is very open from the tee box and ironically, my driver has been the straightest club in the bag this week. But I also changed putters a few weeks ago, just before Soweto, and it felt good and I made the cut there. That gave me some confidence and this week, the putter has just been flowing.”

Looking to pile the pressure on the leaders is Warwick Purchase of Benoni Country Club. At 11-under with 18 holes to go, Purchase is just a single shot off the pace while Luke Mayo and Francois van der Walt are a further two strokes back on nine-under.

Keelan Africa was the leading member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class on a tournament total of eight-under, four shots adrift.