Swiss professional Robert Wiederkehr’s decision to move back to South Africa because of the high standard of golf here is paying off as he signed for a six-under-par 66 to force his way into a three-way tie for the lead of the PGA of South Africa National Championship presented by Diners Club at Stellenbosch Golf Club on Wednesday.
Wiederkehr and Gauteng’s Clinton Grobler and Pieter Kruger all came through 36 holes tied on eight under par, one stroke clear of Michael Scholz.
And Scholz is in turn three strokes clear of the next best, which suggests the title will be decided between these four players in Thursday’s final round.
Wiederkehr spent some time campaigning on the Sunshine Tour and had a few starts on the European Tour, but has now moved back to South Africa where he works fulltime with the golf coaching team at Fancourt.
This is only his second appearance in the PGA of South Africa National Championship presented by Diners Club, and he’s clearly focused on winning.
“I’ve only been a member of the PGA of South Africa for the last two years. I was working in Switzerland and only came to South Africa seasonally.
“I played in this championship the first time last year and I think I finished 15th which I wasn’t too impressed with,” he said.
Wiederkehr’s 66 was matched by that of Grobler, while co-leader Kruger signed for a second round of three under.
“I’m quite happy with the 66,” said Wiederkehr.
“In the first round I had two bogeys – unnecessary ones with wedges in my hand. In the second round I had none. My short game has always been up to standard.”
But the key for him was taking advantage of the chances that came his way early in the round. He was three under through the first five holes.
“In the first round I hit it really close in the beginning, like six and five feet, and missed all the putts. Then I found something in my putting feel.
Today I made birdie on the first, third and fifth holes and that got me going. I’m the kind of guy that if I make a few in the beginning then I want to go deep.
I don’t get scared. So when I hole a few putts in the beginning I can generally get it going.”
A win on Thursday would certainly vindicate Wiederkehr’s decision to move back to South Africa permanently.
“This is home for me. The golf and the way golf is played is very healthy here. I felt I was dwindling a bit overseas. I needed to get back here. I’m happy to be back because golf is healthy in South Africa.”
Scores from Wednesday’s second round of the PGA National Championship presented by Diners Club at the par-72 Stellenbosch Golf Club:
136 Robert Wiederkehr 70 66; Clinton Grobler 70 66; Pieter Kruger 67 69
137 Michael Scholz 67 70
140 Andrew Mackie 74 66; Darrin Hedley 72 68
141 Kenneth Dube 72 69
142 Songs Sonamzi 73 69
143 William Guy 72 71; Dane Vosloo 71 72; Pierre van Vuuren 70 73
144 Michael du Toit 70 74; Billy Meyburgh 67 77
145 Conrad du Plooy 71 74
146 Craig Stickling 76 70; Robert Braithwaite 74 72; Michael Michell 74 72; Blanche Lamprecht 74 72
147 Ben Fouchee 75 72; Gregg Upton 73 74; Stephan Spies 72 75; Henk Alberts 72 75
148 Wietz Botes 77 71; Stefan Visage 74 74
149 Altus Kapp 75 74; James Wade 75 74; William Lake ZIM 75 74; Keagan Beyer 74 75; Jurgen Heitz GER 73 76
150 Alan Michell 75 75; Renato Santo 74 76; Steve Cottingham 71 79
151 Morten Bredahl 77 74; David Riddle 77 74; Mathew Golder 76 75; Johan Engelbrecht 72 79
152 De Waal Botha 74 78
153 Paul McKenzie 77 76
154 Adriaan Vorster 79 75; Philip du Preez 78 76; Ian Eveleigh 77 77; Artur Pereira 76 78; John Dickson 75 79; Johan Smit 74 80
155 Christiaan Jonck 76 79; Neil Whitehorn 75 80; Rudy Mertz 74 81
156 TJ Biggs 79 77
157 Chris Clayton 76 81; Paul Simmons 75 82
158 Zander Potgieter BRN 81 77; Almar Creighton 79 79; Ryno Rudolph 79 79; Herman Vorster 79 79; Abrie Swanepoel 77 81; Ryan Reid 74 84
159 Jaco Vermeulen 80 79
160 Mark Wiltshire 82 78; Paul Bradshaw 80 80; Jan Steenekamp 78 82; Francois Taljaard 78 82; Cedric Brummer 76 84
161 Byron Nel 84 77; Craig Lewthwaite 81 80; Justin Rube 80 81
165 Pieter Woest 87 78
167 Morne Jurgens 79 88
168 Alwyn Vorster 83 85
174 JP Viviers 86 88
175 Richard Lee 89 86
178 Adrian Buchner 89 89
DQ Dean Nysschen 75 DQ
WD Kevin Booysen 78 WD; Ian Kennedy 79 WD
