Lightning stops play on second day of PGA at Links

By Michael Vlismas, edited by Kouga Chronicle

Samuel Simpson retains lead as lightning suspends play in Fitch & Leedes PGA Championship.

Lightning and dark clouds caused a halt to the day’s play at the Fitch & Leedes PGA Championship at St Francis Links on the second round yesterday at about 3 pm yesterday.
The second round started at 7 am this morning on the 3rd day of this exciting golf tournament at St Francis Links.

Simpson climbed to 10 under par overall through 12 holes of his second round when play was suspended. He is currently one stroke clear of Deon Germishuys, who had also completed 12 holes when play was suspended. Joe Long made it into the clubhouse on eight under par with a second round of 69.

Simpson’s game plan for the day was to keep the ball in play and focus on making pars. He started his second round exactly that way, with seven consecutive pars. He had a bogey on the eighth hole but then birdied three of his next four holes.

“Fairways and greens are the top priority around here. It takes a lot of the stress away, so my game plan is to just make pars. I’m trying to put the ball in the best places possible and manage my misses as best I can. If I can keep hitting the greens in regulation, hopefully I will be Ok,” he said.

Germishuys is challenging once again on the Sunshine Tour. He finished in the top-10 in his last three tournaments. His second round started with five birdies in his opening seven holes to give him another shot at a victory.

Luke Jerling made three straight birdies to climb to eight under par when play was suspended.

Jacques Blaauw is in the clubhouse on seven under, following a solid 65, while Zander Lombard’s comeback continues to gain momentum as he sits on seven under through nine holes.

The Fitch & Leedes PGA Championship is proudly supported by Stinger GC, Momentum, Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA), Kouga Municipality, Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Cape St Francis, Telkom and the PGA of South Africa.

Read more local stories about St Francis, Kouga, Eastrn Cape, and South Africa at: kougachronicle.co.za