Bekker remains well in control

SA OPEN: HALFWAY LEADER HOPING TO FINISH THE JOB

Oliver Bekker has always seemed to be one of those cheerful, almost happy-golucky characters out on the golf course, but in private he was probably anguishing over winning more tournaments.

But the 36-year-old is now experienced enough to know that too much expectation can be as damaging as a lack of confidence.

Bekker still looks so comfortable and under control on the course and his maturity is reflected in how his career is progressing.

Having won seven times on the Sunshine Tour, he competed on the European Challenge Tour this year and finished seventh on the Order of Merit, earning his card for the 2022 DP World Tour.

Now he leads the South African Open by three strokes midway through the tournament at the Gary Player Country Club, adding a 67 yesterday to his brilliant 65 on the opening day.

But proving that he is now at a different level by winning the SA Open is not on his mind.

“I don’t want to put myself under a lot of pressure,” Bekker said yesterday. “Every round I just want to try shoot under-par and I’ve learnt that one or two underpar every day is generally good enough.

“So I just try to grind it out every day, keep chipping away, and if you do keep under-par then you will be there or thereabouts at the end of the day.”

That pragmatic approach combined with a razor-sharp short game saw Bekker collect six birdies in the second round, with his bogey on the par-four second hole his only dropped shot.

He chipped in from just off the green for birdies on both the 14th and 16th holes, while he sunk a 40-foot birdie putt on the parfour eighth.

And there were the up-anddowns when he managed to salvage par.

“Having the halfway lead means I’ve done half the job pretty well – now to finish the job. I haven’t made many mistakes and it helps when you’re so sharp around the greens. If I can keep sharp there should be lots of opportunities,” Bekker said.

Neil Schietekat, who shared the first-round lead with Bekker, did not manage quite as good a demolition job yesterday, but still fired a two-under-par 70 to stay in touch on nine-under-par, three shots back.

Justin Harding shot a 67, to join Schietekat on nine-under, while Danie van Tonder (68), Lyle Rowe (71) and Hennie du Plessis (70) are on seven-under.