The Armada is an increasingly thunderous background noise at the SDC Open in South Africa. The Spaniards have taken positions after the second day of the inaugural HotelPlanner Tour tournament held at Zebula Golf Estates.
Lucas Vacarisas (-8) has moved into fifth position, and Quim Vidal (-7) and Albert Boneta (-7) are in eleventh. Additionally, Adri Arnaus (-2), Borja Virto (-2), and Sebas García Rodríguez (-2) have made the cut. The season debut for the Spaniards can already be rated as remarkable, no matter what happens over the weekend, although excellence is within reach… And they are going for it.
The man to catch is named Altin Van der Merwe (-11), the tournament leader for the first two days. The South African signed a card of 67 strokes today. Van der Merwe accompanied Arnaus in the circuit’s inaugural tee-off this Thursday. His selection was not a whim. He is the champion of Africa. The first and only one in history so far, as he claimed the first African Amateur Championship held last year at Leopard Creek.
This victory allowed him to play in the Open Championship at Royal Troon and the Alfred Dunhill Championship. On both occasions, he missed the cut. In 2024, he was the amateur sensation in Africa, of course also the champion of South Africa, and he turned professional after the British. However, a peculiar amateur. Unusual. He did not go through the universities in the United States and turned professional at 27. He is now 28. It seems he is in a hurry to prove himself.
The collective performance of the Spaniards has been very good so far. Vacarisas is the spearhead of this hunt for the African champion. The golfer from Golf Montanyà delivered a great card of 67 strokes today, exceptionally finished with three birdies in the last four holes. Meanwhile, Vidal and Boneta are mirroring each other’s steps. They scored 70 strokes on Thursday and signed 67 today. To top off the coincidence, after playing, they went to explore the Zebula savannah together on quads.
Special mention for Boneta. It is his first Challenge Tour tournament with a card, and not only has he made the cut, but he is also up there with a chance of winning. He continues to show the same boldness he displayed in the Final Stage of the Infinitum Golf School.
Arnaus, Virto, and García Rodríguez still have room to sign a great week in South Africa. The top 10 is six strokes away, a small distance with 36 holes ahead. A lot of grit from Arnaus to turn his round around after a very painful double bogey on the 18th hole, par 5. At that moment, he was out of the cut, but from there, he achieved three birdies in five holes, from 2 to 6, ensuring two more days of golf at Zebula.
