Louis Oosthuizen holed a lengthy birdie putt at the final green to snatch a one shot lead and also earn himself an excavator on day two of the Volvo Champions event in Durban.
The South African posted an eight under par 64 on a rain-softened Durban Country Club course to move to 12-under par and one shot clear of Scotland’s Scott Jamieson, who signed for a similar score and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (68) on 11-under par.
Louis Oosthuizen right at home behind the controls of his Volvo excavator. (Photo – www.europeantour.com/Getty Images).
Jaidee and Jamieson, who won last month’s Nelson Mandela Championship at the nearby Royal Durban course, are six shots clear of six players sharing fourth place on five under par.
Oosthuizen generated huge interest when he bought himself a tractor after capturing the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews.
However the 33 competitors in Durban this week were joined on day two by 17 amateurs competing in two-man teams.
Oosthuizen had birdie 17 to tie Jaidee and Jamieson but when he holed out from 30-foot birdie at the last it ensured he won the team prize of a Volvo sedan.
However the World No. 6 ranked Oosthuizen, and the highest ranked player in the Euro 2m event, arranged with organisers to swap the car for a Euro 40,000 excavator that is a prize for a hole-in-one at the 15th hole.
Oosthuizen now intends using the excavator on his Albertina farm located near Mosel Bay on the southern coast of South Africa.
“I’ve been nagging my wife for a few years that I want something on the farm as there are a few stumps and things I need to get rid of,” he said.
“I knew if you made a hole-in-one at 15 you would win an excavator so when I won the car for the winning pro-amateur team, I spoke with Volvo and they agreed to swap the car for an excavator.
“And that’s why I stood over that putt on 18 for a bit longer than normal.
“So I’m going to play around with it and might dig out a few bunkers.”
And while Oosthuizen looks to kick start his new season on a winning note, Jamieson is looking to win in Durban for a second time in a month.
“I’m definitely comfortable playing here in Durban and the confidence is high, as well which is all-important,” said Jamieson.
