Scot Ewen Ferguson was singing the praise of being the company of a boyhood idol as he continues to make his presence felt heading to the weekend rounds of the Jonsson Workwear Open at Stern City near Joburg
Ferguson grabbed six birdies in a three-under 69 to be sharing 13th place on nine-under, just four from the front in the co-sanctioned event.
Germany’s Nick Bahem heads the field by a shot at 13-uner, with the 23-year-old Tour rookie birdieing five of his closing seven holes into six-under 66 on the Club course at Stern City.
Ewen Ferguson delighted to have played opening two Jonsson Workwear Open rounds in the company of boyhood idol George Coetzee
As well, 32 players are within five shots from the lead while the cut was a low five-under tally.
Ferguson continues to impress after his new season best of a share of third last week at Eastern Cape and he’s taken that form to the northern side of the South African capital.
And helping over the opening two says has been partnered with now 37-year-old South African golfing legend George Coetzee, a winner of 16 titles in his pro career including 14 on his home Sunshine Tour and five on the DP World Tour.
Ferguson said: “I played nicely again today, and it’s been nice to play with George ( Coetzee).
Top South African golfer George Coetzee
“I have always admired him, so it was cool to play with him and try and impress him and I think I managed to do that, so that was fun.
“I’ve been a fan of the European Tour since I was young and I’ve always seen him (Coetzee) around. Even when I went to events, I’d always see him there and he also used to get coached by the same coach (Jamie Gough) as me.
“I kind of looked up to him through that and he’s just a very successful golfer and I think ultimately that’s what we all want to be. I’ve not played with him before, so it was nice to do that today.
“Obviously also playing with Jordan (Smith), who is a friend of mine, was good fun”.
Ferguson admitted being out in the second group at 6.50am took its toll early, mixing three outward nine birdies with just as many bogeys but the Bearsden golfer settled down to birdie his 10th, 15th and final holes,
He said: “I found it tough this morning when I teed off as I was quite tired and still a little bit stiff as we are not used to such an early tee time, and 4 o’clock alarms (smiling).
“As the round went on, I managed to find myself a bit and it was nice to hole a putt on the last for a birdie.
“It was nice to dig deep today and I think three under is a really good result.”
Gleneagles Calum Hill, tied with Ferguson at the start of play at six-under, posted a 72 to drop to six-under while Fifer Connor Syme made the low five-under par cut on the mark with a 69.
