Drysdale one shot off Tonder lead in Kenya
SOUTH AFRICA’S Danie van Tonder soared to the top of the leaderboard on the back of three eagles to hold a narrow lead at the halfway stage of the Kenya Savannah Classic.
Van Tonder eagled the sixth, 11th and 12th at Karen Country Club as he added a second round of 64 to his opening 65 to finish 13 under par, a shot ahead of in-form compatriot Justin Harding and Scotland’s David Drysdale.
The 30-year-old also carded three birdies and was two shots clear of the field until dropping his second shot of the day on the 18th.
“It’s a bit different this week,” Van Tonder said. “Last week I missed the cut by one. I was struggling with my swing a bit, trying to play aggressive but it didn’t really work the first day. On the second I got it back.
“But this week I’ve found something again. I got some confidence out there.”
Harding won the Magical Kenya Open on the same course on Sunday and carried on where he left off with a second round of 66 containing seven birdies and two bogeys.
“I think the golf course just suits me well,” Harding said. “I enjoy it out there, I drove it really well today, I put it in play and to be fair I probably just didn’t hit it close enough to the hole.
“I think I’ve got to just handle my emotions correctly. Today I was a little grumpier than I’ve been for the last five days. There is a lot going on inside with me I suppose but I try to be as calm as I can.”
Drysdale missed the cut last week but benefited from a change of equipment as he carded a second consecutive 65 in pursuit of a first European Tour title in his 519th event.
“I had to change driver head last week to loft up and launch it a little higher in the altitude here and I just hit too many left,” Drysdale said.
“I missed a lot of fairways and stymied myself behind a few trees so went back to my old head and I’ve driven it fantastically so far.
“You just go out and play but it’s hard not to think about it [not winning]. It’s a record I don’t want to have. That’s what I’m striving for, to win a tournament or win a few but obviously to get the first one. It’s on my mind, not constantly, but it’s something that’s there.”
Elsewhere, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre enjoyed a superb WGC debut with a 2&1 victory over Kevin Na, the left-hander chipping in for an eagle on the 13th and holing a bunker shot for another on the 16th.
Meanwhile, Dunbarnie Links will host this year’s renamed Women’s Scottish Open, organisers have announced. The tournament, previously known as the Ladies’ Scottish Open, will be the first professional event to be held at the new Fife course when it takes place from August 12-15.