High-flying Clarke left to rue missed chance at Joburg Open
The 40-year-old missed from under five feet on the final green to leave him on 10 under and in a share of third place with England’s Danny Willett and local lads Hendrik Buhrmann and Jbe Kruger.
England’s David Lynn will take a one-stroke lead into the third round after a 67 at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington East took the former England amateur international to 12 under par at halfway and one ahead of title favourite Charl Schwartzel.
The 36-year-old from Stoke has not had to return to the European Tour qualifying school since 1999 and has earned over £3.5million. But Lynn has won only once in more than 300 starts and that was seven years ago.
Schwartzel has to go back only to last Sunday for his last success and did not a drop a stroke yesterday in a 68 interrupted by the same thunderstorm which halted the cricket at the nearby Wanderers ground.
The South African matched Lynn’s closing birdie when play resumed, but playing partner Clarke missed that putt to keep two stokes off the pace.
Barry Lane had a chance of being alongside them with two to play on the adjoining West course – the shorter and far easier of the two lay-outs used for the opening 36 holes – but then triple-bogeyed the 381-yard 17th.
Playing his 649th Tour event and at 49 attempting to become the circuit’s oldest-ever winner, Lane took two in a greenside bunker and then three-putted to fall seven adrift of Lynn. Surprise first round leader Neil Schietekat, outside the world’s top 1,000, added only a 72 to his scintillating opening 62.
It was a poor day too for England’s Simon Khan and Scot Alastair Forsyth.
Qualifying school winner Khan, the former Wales Open champion, went from eight under to five under with a 74, while Forsyth’s 76 was 12 worse than his first effort and meant he missed the cut.
Defending champion Anders Hansen was on the same mark after finishing with a double bogey six on the West, and others to crash out included former Open champion Paul Lawrie, last season’s Rookie of the Year Chris Wood and ex-Ryder Cup man David Howell. The storm delay meant the round could not be completed before nightfall and 30 players will resume this morning.
Leader Lynn said of his round: “I hit it stiff on the first for birdie and that put me in a good frame of mind.
Schwartzel commented: “It seems like the form from last week is carrying over and with a good weekend it could get very interesting.
“If you can eliminate the mistakes you’re always going to be playing good golf and you need to make those little 10 or 12-footers to keep you in the tournament.”
