Staff WriterThe Vodacom Origins of Golf at Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course has delivered a leaderboard tighter than a cork in a whiskey bottle, with Kyle McClatchie, Dylan Mostert, Haydn Porteous and Ryan van der Klis all sharing the lead at six under par when fading light finally called time on Saturday’s play.
It was a marathon of a day. The suspended first round wrapped up in the afternoon before players were marched straight back onto the course for round two. For Dylan Mostert, it began like a dream and quickly descended into a cold shower. He signed for a sparkling seven-under-par 64 in the opener, but a disastrous seven on his second hole of round two left him clinging on to his share of the lead instead of running away with it.
McClatchie, meanwhile, looked like a man chasing destiny. Still searching for his first Tour win, the 27-year-old turned heads early with five birdies in his first six holes of round two. Then came four bogeys that brought him crashing back to earth and into the logjam at the top. For a player with just two top-10 finishes on Tour, the Sunday spotlight offers both opportunity and danger.
Haydn Porteous had nine holes to his credit before darkness descended, steady enough to muscle into the four-way tie. Van der Klis, thanks to his opening 65, didn’t even need to tee off the second round to keep his name in lights. He’ll start Sunday fresh but under pressure, with the pack breathing down his neck.
On the women’s side, Kelsey Nicholas leads the Sunshine Ladies Tour contingent with a tidy two-under-par 69. While the spotlight shines brightest on the men’s tussle, Nicholas quietly reminded everyone she’s got the game to mix it with the best.
Play resumes at 07:00 on Sunday, and with the Vodacom Origins of Golf serving up equal parts brilliance and blunders, don’t be surprised if the leaderboard looks like a lottery ticket by the time the final putts drop.
