Moving day at the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa saw a congested leaderboard jockey for position in another round of fine scoring at Glendower GC and Tom McKibbin would tee off in a mouthwatering final grouping with on fire Italian Matteo Manassero and South African native Oliver Bekker.
It was steady as she goes for the Holywood man on his opening nine with birdies on the par-4 first and par-5 sixth welcome to temper the damage done by bogeys on three and seven.
Another good sand save from short-sided on nine would see him turn as he had begun at -13. His playing partners would nose ahead with another fine display of approach shots from the Italian, including a sublime bunker shot at six to leave a kick in birdie. Just the one bogey with his three birdies on the outward nine left Manassero leading at -17, with Bekker hot on his heels, one behind.
McKibbin was treading water at this stage with his accuracy just a touch below the standard set on the opening two days. However, birdie on the par-5 11th would be closely followed by a delightful tee shot to the par-3 12th that left no more than 12 feet for two in a row and to get back in hot pursuit. It was not to be, however, as the putt leaked right and Manassero went back-to-back, to pull further ahead.
The group in front would provide the strongest challenge to the lead score and rarely have two more contrasting styles produced such consistent results. Spain’s, Angel Hidalgo, who strikes the ball like it insulted him, and South African Shaun Norris with his long, loping, gentle swing both put together fine rounds. Aggressive iron play was the order of the day for the group and Hidalgo eagled 17 to draw level with Manassero, momentarily at least as Norris would follow him in to leapfrog the two into the outright lead on -20.
McKibbin will feel he left a few shots behind him, finding good positions, but not quite capitalising. All was calm and tranquil as the last group teed up on the par-5 17th. McKibbin with 6-iron on to the green would leave himself with a long uphill eagle chance as the rain started to fall. A push up the hill to within five feet for birdie as the first clap of thunder rolled around the Glendower GC. Sirens would follow and play was suspended with just six players left on course.
A little over an hour later, the six returned to tidy up the final few holes. McKibbin would clean up his welcome birdie and then a great 3-wood on 18 would leave him in position A1 to attack and he rolled home another birdie to complete a three-under 69 to leave him tied for seventh and trailing by four as Manassero parred alongside.
“My round was good today”, Manassero said afterwards. “I mean, I hit a bad shot on three, but it’s never easy, the beginning of the round, this golf course requires a lot of precision off the tee, otherwise you can end up with no shot. And after that I did those things right, and it was one of those days that I allow myself to get into the rhythm and actually started playing better as the round went on. So that’s what I was really happy about. So, the round was good” said a satisfied Manassero.
All to play for tomorrow with a battling back nine seeing Tom McKibbin put himself amongst the contenders as the final leg of the International Swing reaches its conclusion in stormy South Africa.
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