Staff WriterBy any standard, the Blu Label Unlimited Challenge isn’t for the faint-hearted — and Thursday at Lost City Golf Club proved it. Tyrone Ryan clung to his lead after a gritty second round, adding just seven points to reach 29 overall, as gusting winds and awkward pin positions turned smooth swings into survival tactics.
“It was a tricky day out there with the wind,” said Ryan, who had opened the week with a commanding 22-point round at the Gary Player Country Club. “I couldn’t come to grips with the wind so that was tough.
Between the pin positions and the wind, I struggled to have standard shots. I had a lot of awkward yardages. It was a battle out there today, but I kept it together.”
Keep it together he did — though just barely. His stumble opened the door for 20-year-old prodigy Yurav Premlall to charge into contention, trimming Ryan’s cushion to five points.
Meanwhile, Hennie du Plessis continued his comeback tour in style, sharing third on 23 points with the ever-consistent Anthony Michael.
Premlall, who played the Gary Player Country Club on Thursday, posted 13 points on a course that’s long been kind to him. He first made a name for himself here as an amateur, winning the Nedbank Junior Challenge and the Freddie Tait Cup for leading amateur honours at the 2021 Investec South African Open. Safe to say, the young South African feels right at home.
“It’s one of my favourite events and venues for the year and I always look forward to coming back to play this event,” said Premlall. “The golf courses are really nice. It’s a lot softer compared to last year, so it’s easier to make birdies. I just need to keep on doing what I am doing.
The format is really cool – it rewards you for making birdies, so I’m going to have to make a lot of them. I am looking forward to what the next two days will bring.”
For Du Plessis, still shaking off the rust from an injury layoff, this week’s Blu Label Unlimited Challenge is as much about testing his mettle as chasing silverware. “I played with zero expectations and just came here to see where my game is at, and I’m very happy,” he said.
“I’m in the mix so I’ll keep my foot on the pedal. I’m still trying to win a tournament and I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think my game was ready to compete with these guys.”
The day also had its fireworks — quite literally — when Deon Germishuys delivered the shot of the round, acing the 155-metre par-three 16th hole with a seven iron. The result? Fifty thousand Skybucks from Airlink and a story to dine out on for years.
With two rounds to play at the Blu Label Unlimited Challenge, Ryan’s lead is far from safe. The wind is unpredictable, the leaderboard is tightening, and the Lost City course is baring its teeth.
But as any pro knows, tournaments aren’t won on the calm days — they’re won when you keep your head while everyone else is cursing their yardages.
