Charl Coetzee takes a one-stroke lead into the weekend at the Tshwane Open. Photo: Petri Oeschger/Sunshine Tour
PRETORIA, South Africa – Charl Coetzee squeezed every ounce of fun out of a 65 that gave him the lead after two rounds of the Tshwane Open.
He even took a handful of the complimentary sweets on offer in the score recording area.
“I haven’t had this much fun in a long time,” said Coetzee, who leads a European Tour event for the first time in his career on 12 under par.
And it seems even the golf gods want to prolong the fun for Coetzee. Just as Chile’s Mark Tullo signed for a 66 to make it into the clubhouse on 11 under, and South Africa’s Dawie van der Walt shifted to 11 under with four holes to play, a huge thunderstorm forced the suspension of play late in the afternoon.
American Peter Uihlein beat the storm to finish at 10 under with a 66.
But whatever happens over the next 36 holes, you get the sense that this one round is going to mean the world of difference to Coetzee.
“I’ve felt like I’ve started playing better over the last couple of weeks. I’ve been working hard with my coach and a sports psychologist,” he said.
And somewhere between the tips and the talks, it all came together for Coetzee.
