East London :
Jeev Milkha Singh ran into a four-hole bogey streak on the back nine and made an early exit from the Africa Open Golf Challenge even as England’s Matt Ford takes a one shot lead into the weekend after carding a second round six under par 66.
Jeev shot 75 in the first round and then added a second round 71, which was not enough to keep in the field for the weekend. Jeev seemed to be doing fine with three birdies on the front nine.
The next four holes, all bogeys from 11th to 14th and that ended his hopes of making the cut. He did birdie the 15th and 16th but it did not help. Meanwhile, Matt Ford had a fine day once again.
With the wind not as strong for the morning starters at the East London Golf Club, the 36 year old Ford took advantage to move to 11 under with six birdies and an eagle.
He failed to produce a second successive flawless round, though, suffering bogies on the ninth and 17th. He had a 67 in the first round.
Ford was followed by Eduardo de la Riva, who was at 10-under with 68 and 66.
Ford, who was about to spend a winter working for Royal Mail before coming through November’s Qualifying School at the tenth attempt, said: “I don’t think you can ever get all of it out of the round.”
Ford had led by three shots after eagling the par four 428 yard 12th, but Eduardo De la Riva clawed his way back to within one courtesy of birdies on the sixth and seventh, the latter following an excellent chip onto the green.
South Africa have provided all five previous winners of this event and four home players sit inside the top seven on the leaderboard, Jaco van Zyl and Erik Van Rooyen setting the example on eight under.
Former Ryder Cup player Howell’s 69 was his sixth consecutive round in the sixties on these shores this season.
South Korean Byeong-hun An was five shots off the pace after carding an immaculate seven under 65 that contained two eagles, on the third and 16th.
Irishman Phelan struggled to replicate his opening round, with an early eagle overshadowed by three bogies in four holes to keep him on his overnight five under.
