Tom McKibbin opened his second round with an incredible run of seven consecutive birdies before signing for a ten under par round of 62 to take a three-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open.
The Northern Irishman, playing on an invite in the Mother City this week, is 14 under par after 36 holes, three strokes clear of first round co-leader Iván Cantero Gutiérrez and former Sunshine Tour Number One Zander Lombard, who share second place on 11 under par.
The 19-year-old bettered his career-low round by five strokes at Royal Cape Golf Club – after posting a four under par 68 at Rondebosch Golf Club yesterday – and was left surprised by his hot start.
“It was really good,” he said. “I was going out there just to try and shoot another good round like yesterday. I started off with seven birdies in a row, which was very surprising around here especially with how tight it is, but it was a very special day.
“I picked good targets off the tee and into the greens and haven’t really been too silly with anything. I’ve plotted my way around the course and it’s seemed to work out. Today was a little easier; there wasn’t as much wind as yesterday or the practice days so I just took advantage of the conditions.
McKibbin has Chris Selfridge caddying for him this week, a former professional who played on the Challenge Tour from 2015 – 2017, and the youngster is finding value in the second opinion alongside him.
“Chris has been great,” he added. “He’s caddying for me this year and he’s been really helpful in picking targets and just committing to every shot. He’s been a great help for me.”
McKibbin’s ten under par round of 62 was matched by Frenchman Felix Mory and South Africa’s Pieter Moolman, who achieved the feat at Rondebosch Golf Club on day two, with Mory sharing fourth place with countryman Gary Stal on ten under par.
Sweden’s Christofer Blomstrand, who shared the lead after day one with Cantero Gutierrez, is a shot further back on nine under par alongside Moolman and his fellow South Africans Keenan Davidse, JC Ritchie and Louis de Jager, New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier and Englishman Alfie Plant.
The cut fell at four under par, with 67 players surviving to compete over the weekend. Rounds three and four will be held at Royal Cape Golf Club, with McKibbin playing alongside Cantero Gutierrez and Lombard in the final group.
