MICHAEL VLISMAS, Mbabane | Wednesday 7.00pm.
AS Bradford Vaughan bluntly puts it, the idea is to win tournaments, not just make cuts.
Vaughan, once a “lazy” professional who rarely went to the practice range, has transformed his approach to the game, with the result that he carries a two-shot lead into Thursday’s final round of the Vodacom Tour’s R200000 Royal Swazi Sun Classic.
A bogey-free seven-under par 65 around the Royal Swazi Sun course in Wednesday’s second round, to follow up his 68 in the first round, places Vaughan on 11-under par 133 in this 54-hole event.
“I think I’ve been pretty lazy the past two or three years. I’ve just come to the conclusion that you can’t expect things to happen.
“The standard of golf worldwide is so high these days that you have to go out and work hard at it,” said Vaughan.
On another bitterly cold day in the Ezulwini Valley, Vaughan was striking the ball with fearsome consistency.
His iron play has been incredibly solid this week, and his longest putt on Wednesday was a mere 15 feet which he duly sunk for an eagle at the 17th.
“I’ve been working hard on my swing. It’s important that it holds up under pressure. I feel like I’ve been knocking on the door the past few tournaments, so hopefully I can make it count this week.
“The key to this course is patience. You think all the other players are making birdies everywhere, but you mustn’t fall into the trap of trying to force things.”
Vaughan’s last major win was in the Trustbank Gauteng Classic two years ago.
“I’ve been in this position before. If I continue to hit the ball as well as I have been doing, then there’s no need to feel any pressure.”
Brett Liddle, the first round leader after a brilliant 63, returned a level-par 72 to stay at nine-under along with Ulrich van den Berg, who carded a 67.
Andre Cruse has also positioned himself well ahead of the final round.
The winner of the Vodacom Series: Mpumalanga finished the day with five successive birdies for a 69 to place him at eight-under 136 along with Nic Henning, defending champion Justin Hobday and Patrick O’Brien.
The halfway cut fell on one-over par 145, with 46 players making it into the final round. — MWP