Scott Jamieson stormed his way to the lead in the Tshwane Open as Dumfries Liam Johnston led a Scottish 1,2 and 3 finish in capturing the African Amateur title.
Jamieson, 33 grabbed seven birdies in a six-under par 65 to be tied with Sweden’s Alexander Bjork (67) two shots clear of the field on 10-under par at the Pretoria club.
The Glaswegian capped his round with four birdies in a five-hole stretch from his fifth as he chases just a second Tour title after winning the rain-shortened 2013 Nelson Mandela Championship.
The effort, and when an hour was lost due to a thunderstorm, was Jamieson’s lowest score since a similar 65 on day two of the last October’s British Masters at The Grove.
Scott Jamieson shares the lead on day two of the 2017 Tshwane Open. (Photo – European Tour)
He said: “I was very solid again from tee to green, like yesterday, and I’m delighted with that.
“I hit 16 greens in regulation yesterday and it was probably something similar today and when you do that you are bound to have a couple of birdies in there.
“I struggled a bit tee to green last week, but it seems to have clicked this week and hopefully I can hole a few more putts over the weekend.”
Six shots back is three shots sharing 17th place at four under par – Duncan Stewart (72), Richie Ramsay (70) and Marc Warren (
Warren capped his round with a birdie at 17, and the eighth hole of his round, and then eagled the 18th to now be five-under for two days on the two holes.
Two hundred and fifty miles to the east Johnston was roaring his delight in winning at Leopard Creek.
Johnston and the Drumoig-based Syme went into the last round two off the lead behind the 16-year old and last week’s South African Amateur winner Christo Lamprecht Jnr.
Johnston seized his chance after Lamprecht horribly dropped seven shots from the 11th to 14th holes and with the Scot moving one clear with birdies at 14 and 15 and then claiming the title by one stroke with three closing pars in closing 71 for an eight-under victory tally.
Syme closed with a 72 to take second while Old Ranfurly’s Jamie Stewart carded a closing 71 to take third place at six under par.
Johnston’s victory comes after Scotland retained the team title a day earlier over the opening three rounds.
And it continues a strong Tartan dominance in the Rainbow Nation with Michael Stewart (2011), Brian Soutar (2012), Daniel Young (2015) and Craig Ross (2016) winning the prestigious South African Amateur title.
