ANDY CAPOSTAGNO, Johannesburg | Friday 6.30pm.
ENGLISHMAN Paul Eales and South Africa’s Darren Fichardt head the field after two rounds of the South African Open at Randpark. Eales shot a three under par 69 and Fichardt a five under 67 to reach nine under par, a shot ahead of South Africa’s Don Gammon, former US Masters champion Ian Woosnam and first round leader Wallie Coetsee.
Eales has not won on tour since the 1994 Extramadura Open and has been cultivating a career as a radio commentator in between playing in tournaments over the past couple of seasons. He has a hot putter to thank for his pole position, holing unlikely birdie putts from 20, 25, 30 and 35 feet during his first two rounds. Fichardt has won three times on the South African winter tour, but has never been in serious contention on the more lucrative summer circuit.
Among the chasing pack Eales and Fichardt have most to fear from world number six Lee Westwood, who arrived for his first tournament in almost two months hoping to make the cut and, after a fine four under par 68, has surprised himself by getting into contention. He said, “In my first tournament last year I missed the cut in Malaysia. I feel fresher and more prepared for the season this year and physically I feel a bit better as well”.
He made his score over the back nine after starting at the 10th, holing a bunker shot for eagle on the 18th to be out in 32, four under the card. A bogey on the ninth, his last, brought him home in level par. Westwood is in much better shape than defending champion David Frost who ballooned to a four over par 76 and missed the cut.