Staff WriterThe Alfred Dunhill Links Championship served up a classic Scottish cocktail on Friday: wind that sliced through the field like a one-iron, sideways rain, and fairways wetter than a haddock’s handshake. But amid the squalls, the sun broke through on the South African contingent.
Richard Sterne sits atop the leaderboard on 12 under par, sharing the lead with local favourite Robert MacIntyre heading into the weekend of this prestigious DP World Tour event.
Louis Oosthuizen lurks just a shot behind, while Herman Loubser is only four strokes off the pace, keeping the Springbok charge well and truly alive.
Sterne’s second round at the Old Course was as clean as a fresh scorecard—bogey-free for a 67—while Oosthuizen crafted a composed 68 over at Kingsbarns.
Loubser, meanwhile, was on eight under with a single hole left when officials finally waved the white flag and suspended play after hours of battering wind and rain.
“It’s Scotland and that’s what you expect,” said Sterne. “Fortunately I’ve played here since 2001, so I know all the courses. I always enjoy playing any of these golf courses. It’s a privilege.”
For Oosthuizen, the round was less about hunting birdies and more about survival. “I’ve actually been sick and I think I haven’t been so worried about golf. I’ve just been trying to get through the day. But I love links golf.
I had a good start at Carnoustie in the first round, and it was one of the few times I’ve played that course and the weather has been so good. In this tournament, starting off well gives you good motivation. And then today I felt like I played really well at Kingsbarns, which is a course where I’ve always struggled before,” he said.
Both men have their eyes on a slice of history this weekend. Sterne and Oosthuizen are bidding to become just the second players ever to win both the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Alfred Dunhill Championship. To date, only fellow South African Branden Grace has pulled off that double.
“It would be great to do that just so that I could tell Branden he’s not the only one anymore,” Oosthuizen said with a grin. “But there are so many South Africans playing this week and it’s always nice seeing our flag right up there, so hopefully one of us can pull it through.”
With the weather set to stay as unpredictable as a St Andrews bounce, the stage is perfectly set for a compelling weekend.
MacIntyre has the home crowd, Sterne has form on his side, and Oosthuizen—sick or not—has the pedigree.
The Alfred Dunhill Links has a habit of producing drama on the closing stretch, and this year’s edition looks no different.
