Ricardo Santos (Getty Images)
FLAWLESS SANTOS GOES THREE CLEAR
IN WEATHER-HIT AFRICA OPEN
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Portugal's Ricardo Santos set a daunting clubhouse target after a second flawless round in the weather-delayed Africa Open at East London Golf Club today.
Santos added a bogey free 66 to his opening 62 at East London Golf Club to finish 14 under par, three shots clear of Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti.
The former Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year had picked up two shots in his first nine holes before play was suspended due to torrential rain which caused a delay of 95 minutes.
When play resumed, Santos carded further birdies at the third, fourth and seventh to boost his chances of a second European Tour title, his first coming in the Madeira Islands Open in 2012.
Zanotti has yet to win on the European Tour and lost his card at the end of last season after finishing 140th on The Race to Dubai, only to swiftly regain it by coming second at the Qualifying School.
The 30 year old also returned a second round of 66 and, like Santos, has not dropped a shot in 36 holes. Playing partner Simon Wakefield added a 67 to his opening 66 to lie five shots off the lead on nine under.
South African players have won nine of the last 12 European Tour events on home soil and Jean Hugo, Ulrich van den Berg and Ruan de Smidt were all a further shot back on eight under after rounds of 66, 68 and 66 respectively.
Santos added a bogey free 66 to his opening 62 at East London Golf Club to finish 14 under par, three shots clear of Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti.
The former Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year had picked up two shots in his first nine holes before play was suspended due to torrential rain which caused a delay of 95 minutes.
When play resumed, Santos carded further birdies at the third, fourth and seventh to boost his chances of a second European Tour title, his first coming in the Madeira Islands Open in 2012.
Zanotti has yet to win on the European Tour and lost his card at the end of last season after finishing 140th on The Race to Dubai, only to swiftly regain it by coming second at the Qualifying School.
The 30 year old also returned a second round of 66 and, like Santos, has not dropped a shot in 36 holes. Playing partner Simon Wakefield added a 67 to his opening 66 to lie five shots off the lead on nine under.
South African players have won nine of the last 12 European Tour events on home soil and Jean Hugo, Ulrich van den Berg and Ruan de Smidt were all a further shot back on eight under after rounds of 66, 68 and 66 respectively.
Tournament Leaderboard
| Pos |  | Player name | | Nat | | Hole | | Par | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | SANTOS, Ricardo | | POR | | 18 | | -14 | ||
| 2 | | FISHER, Oliver | | ENG | | 18 | | -13 | ||
| T3 | | ZANOTTI, Fabrizio | | PAR | | 18 | | -11 | ||
| T3 | | BJERREGAARD, Lucas | | DEN | | 18 | | -11 | ||
| T3 | | GEE, Adam | | ENG | | 18 | | -11 | ||
| T6 | | DANTORP, Jens | | SWE | | 18 | | -10 | ||
| T6 | | WILLIAMS, Mark | | RSA | | 18 | | -10 | ||
| T8 | | WAKEFIELD, Simon | | ENG | | 18 | | -9 | ||
| T8 | | AIKEN, Thomas | | RSA | | 3 | | -9 | ||
| T10 | | HUGO, Jean | | RSA | | 18 | | -8 |
Full Leaderboard
COMPLETED TWO-ROUND TOTALS BY SCOTS
139 Alastair Forsyth 71 68
140 Craig Lee 69 71
146 Peter Whiteford 68 78
COMPLETED TWO-ROUND TOTALS BY SCOTS
139 Alastair Forsyth 71 68
140 Craig Lee 69 71
146 Peter Whiteford 68 78
Published by scottishgolfview.com