Golf: Scott Jamieson jumps into Joburg frame

SCOTT Jamieson surged into contention at the Joburg Open yesterday, while Englishman Robert Rock beat the weather to take the lead before play was abandoned with 149 players still to complete their second round.

Rock, from Staffordshire, is chasing a second career win and shot a second-round 67 to hit the front just moments before a thunderstorm forced play to be abandoned for the day.

The 34-year-old, who played the West course, is 11 under par for the tournament after posting an eagle and four birdies yesterday, with his only blemishes being bogies on the eighth and 12th holes. He signed his card a shot clear of home duo Jbe Kruger and Branden Grace, who both went round the West in 66, adding to their 67s on Thursday.

Another South African, Michiel Bothma, is a shot further back on nine under, as is another in George Coetzee. He could prove to be the best-placed, though, with his second round interrupted after just six holes.

Scotland’s Jamieson, meanwhile, checked into the clubhouse with a four-under 67 leaving him three shots behind his Anglo rival, while England’s Jamie Elson, one of the leaders after the first round, was unable to start his round at all.

Ireland’s Damien McGrane, who shared that lead with Elson, was one over after three yesterday, dropping down to seven under, the same score as Scot David Drysdale who was one-under for the day at the turn and bang in contention when the heavens opened.

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel, four under for the tournament, will have to wait until after all the second rounds have been completed this morning to see if he has made the cut.

Having teed off at the break of day yesterday owing to inclement weather on Thursday, Rock was happy to finish his second round and secure himself a later start today. “I don’t like those 4.30 alarms, the aim is to play your way out of those,” he said.

“But I guess weather delays are part of the scene this time of the year over here. My whole game is good – I drove every fairway, bar one; I hit most if not all of the greens and I hit some irons to tap-in length. It’s been a stress-free couple of rounds, what more could I wish for?”

Grace, who only regained his European Tour card at Qualifying School in December, bogeyed the eighth and 18th holes, but can be satisfied with a round which included seven birdies. “I didn’t really make too many mistakes out there today,” he said. “I just missed some putts which could have made the round much better. Sooner or later the consistency is going to pay off.”

Kruger is also yet to win on the European Tour, despite putting himself in contention at Leopard Creek in November’s SA Open Championship.