It’s already been a watershed season for Kyle Barker, and it’s one he’s hoping to end on a high as he takes a one-stroke lead into the weekend of the season-ending Tour Championship delivered by The Courier Guy at Serengeti Estates.
Barker produced the joint low round of the day in this exclusive 43-man field on Friday – a seven-under-par 65 – to lead the field on nine under par overall. Only Stefan Wears-Taylor matched his 65 on Friday, but he heads into the weekend on one over par.
After breaking through with his maiden Sunshine Tour title in the Stella Artois Players Championship early in 2023, Barker went into the new season full of confidence and claimed his second title in the Vodacom Origins of Golf Western Cape.
He came into this week at Serengeti ranked 15th on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, the highest ranking of his career.
It’s been a confident season for Barker including four top-10s and one where he played in his first Major championship in last year Open at Hoylake.
Just one shot behind him, it’s been an equally memorable season for Broomhead.
The KwaZulu-Natal professional is challenging for a maiden title in his rookie season on the Sunshine Tour and started the season with an eight-place finish in the FBC Zimbabwe Open. He’s had a further five top-10s and came close to victory when he led the Gary and Vivienne Player Challenge before finishing 12th there.
Broomhead is currently third on the Fortress Rookie of the Season standings, with Robin Williams heading the way there.
In joint third place on six under is the experienced group of Darren Fichardt, who is looking to become the first double winner of the Tour Championship following his victory in 2018, Rupert Kaminski, Neil Schietekat and Wilco Nienaber.
Casey Jarvis, who finished second last year, could also still have a say on the weekend at just four shots off the lead. – Michael Vlismas.
SCORES:
135 – Kyle Barker 70 65
136 – Jonathan Broomhead 70 66
138 – Darren Fichardt 69 69, Rupert Kaminski 70 68, Neil Schietekat 69 69, Wilco Nienaber 67 71
139 – Jean Hugo 71 68, Louis de Jager 72 67, Casey Jarvis 69 70, Robin Williams 70 69, Malcolm Mitchell 70 69, Dylan Naidoo 71 68
140 – Hennie O’Kennedy 71 69, JC Ritchie 70 70
141 – Pieter Moolman 69 72, Robson Chinhoi 71 70, Lyle Rowe 69 72
142 – Trevor Fisher Jnr 69 73, Thomas Aiken 70 72, Anthony Michael 70 72, Keenan Davidse 72 70, Ryan Van Velzen 72 70, Deon Germishuys 71 71
143 – Peter Karmis 72 71, Louis Albertse 75 68, Jaco Ahlers 73 70, Jacques Blaauw 68 75, Nikhil Rama 72 71, Luca Filippi 68 75, Jayden Schaper 71 72, Martin Rohwer 69 74
144 – Daniel van Tonder 72 72, Luke Jerling 73 71, Jovan Rebula 72 72
145 – Heinrich Bruiners 71 74, Stefan Wears-Taylor 80 65, Jacques P de Villiers 71 74
146 – Danie Van Niekerk 70 76
147 – Jaco Van Zyl 72 75, Matthew Spacey 75 72
148 – Gerhard Pepler 69 79, Wynand Dingle 76 72
149 – Hennie Otto 77 72
Issued by Michael Vlismas Media
Photo by Sunshine Tour / Tyrone Winfield
