Monster putt keeps Da Silva in NMB Classic driving seat
Brazilian Adilson da Silva received a happy ending to his day when he sank a monster 40-foot putt on the 18th hole to extend his lead to five strokes after the second round of the Nelson Mandela Bay Classic at the Humewood Golf Club yesterday.
Da Silva did not repeat his flawless nine-birdie performance of the opening round, but was still good enough in tough conditions to shoot a three-under 69 for an overall total of 132.
He will carry a five-stroke lead over Keith Horne, who kept himself in the chase as the tournament enters its final day by firing five birdies on the back nine, offset by just one bogey, to place himself in the final pairing with a round of 67 after an opening 70.
The Sunshine Senior Tour golfers received a typically breezy greeting yesterday as the south-westerly wind picked up to around 35km/h, ensuring that anything less than perfect would be liable for a degree of punishment.
It meant that only three players — Da Silva, Horne and defending champion Doug McGuigan — were again able to shoot a round of under par, while first round notables Gregg Upton, who was just three behind the overnight leader, James Kingston and Grant Muller found their scores swelling to 76.
With further challenging conditions predicted for today, it arguably rules them out of contention for this year’s title.
Da Silva, meanwhile, continued to impress, though he was not overly thrilled with his putting, which saw the five birdies on his card offset by two bogeys.
“It was a different course today and, in the end, I am happy with my 69,” he said.
“I felt I hit the ball as well as I did yesterday, but I think my putting let me down a little — the putt on the last hole was just a bonus really.”
His modus operandi, he said, would be to focus on staying steady and remaining calm.
“With the weather expected, there will not be too many easy holes and I will just focus on doing what I have been doing, and if I can achieve that I will be happy.”
Though Horne, last year’s runner-up, lurks five off the pace, Da Silva said he was not bothered about the leaderboard.
“I don’t look at that too much because it’s something you can’t control,” he said.
“You just need to control what you are doing and to stay focused on every shot, because in these conditions you can lose a couple of shots very quickly.”
Horne, two-under overnight, was happy to take advantage of some downwind holes later in his round as he shrugged off an indifferent front nine to launch himself back into the hunt.
After something of a rollercoaster front nine which threw up four birdies but three bogeys, the 51-year-old birdied the 11th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th holes to come home in 33 strokes.
It was the sort of day on which the player, who still competes on the regular Sunshine Tour, appreciated the challenges thrown up by the breeze.
“I actually enjoyed this wind because it made me concentrate and you don’t think about having to go low,” he said.
“When you reduce your expectations, that ’ s when you often have your best round.*
“When the conditions are perfect you are so much harder on yourself, but today it was a case of concentrating on each shot because you knew if you didn’t get it right you could make a big number.
“Humewood plays better in a two or three-club wind like this and shows its true potential. You had to play good shots and commit to them otherwise there was trouble.”
While he acknowledges the lead Da Silva enjoys, Horne will aim to put another solid round together today and then strike when the time is right.
“I feel that in the closing stretch there are a number of birdie holes you can take advantage of, so I just want to focus on a solid start and stay in touch because later in the round, anything can happen.”