Johannesburg: The Mena Tour’s Jamie Elson fired five-under 67 to take an outright lead heading into the final round of the Jo’burg City Masters, co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Big Easy Tour, at Country Club Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Two off the pace at the start, the Englishman rattled off five birdies and an eagle (on the sixth) against two bogeys to reach nine-under for the tournament, one clear of South Africa’s Jaco Prinsloo.
Maritz Wessels, also of South Africa, matched the day’s low score of a 67 to climb into solo third a further shot adrift as overnight leader Jacquin Hess slipped into a three-way tie for 13th on four-under after a 74 despite closing his second round with an eagle at the par-5 18th.
“I played really solidly the past two days,” said Elson, who finished second at the RAK Classic in April. “I’m really confident with my iron-game. I got some really good yardages today and managed to hit some pretty close. It’s just a question of getting it in on the green.
“The main thing is just working out the altitude,” he added. “Coming from the UK, the ball is flying, I would say, five per cent further in the winter time here. I have been to Jo’burg before in the summer time but it was about 10 per cent further. So I have got a little conversion thing in my bag that’s been helping me out and it’s been working very well.”
Elsewhere, Sweden’s Henric Sturehed backed up his opening 68 with a level-par 74 to settle for a share of 13th on four-under, one ahead of Chile’s Antonio Costa, Fredrik From of Sweden and English cricketer-turned-golfer Craig Kieswetter, who shared 16th as Eddy Holland stumbled to a second round 77 after opening with a 68.
England’s Sam Hobday led the amateur division on two over as overnight leader Tiago Lobo of Brazil endured a tough second round, carding a 78 to finish on seven over, leaving himself with a mountain to climb in Thursday’s final round.
