Sjoland takes centre stage

Swedish golfer Patrik Sjoland upstaged home hopes Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman and Retief Goosen to grab the lead after the second round of a hotly contested SAA Open in Port Elizabeth.

Sjoland, who lost his tour card just over a year ago, outdid impressive rounds by the three South Africans to take a one-shot lead with a birdie on the final hole and finish with a 64.

The Swede was the first to admit afterwards that the course had played easily in calm conditions.

“I’m very pleased with the round,” he said.

“I had a bit of a shaky start when I went over the back of the first but then managed to get up and down to par.

“Then I hit a bit of a run with birdies on three, five, six, seven and nine - and the TV cameras suddenly came out. That made me a bit nervous, and it took a few holes to get it back together.”

Sjoland believes the nasty side of the wind-swept course is still to show itself, adding: “I think it was pretty easy today, with no wind really to speak of. I am very comfortable when it blows pretty hard.”

Sjoland knows he will have the South African triumvirate breathing down his neck.

The 35-year-old Swede lost his card around a year ago.

“I was tired of all the travelling; after all I was on the tour for around 10 years, and in a way it was nice to lose my card,” he said.

“It allowed me to spend some time at home and think things over.”

Sjoland’s lead will be tested, after Immelman – who celebrates his 27th birthday tomorrow, and Els both carded 66s to be a shot behind.

Three shots further back is Goosen, the other top-10 ranked player in the field and England’s surprise package Andrew Raitt who carded a 66 and 68.

Five players were on eight under – including Worksop golfer Lee Westwood, who carded his second consecutive 68. He was alongside South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, Jaco van Zyl and Steve van Vuuren who hit 65s.

Earlier Goosen – who hit an embarrassing 11 on the 17th yesterday – briefly took the lead and shot an eagle on the same hole that gave him his first-round nightmare.

He smashed a two-iron down the fairway before hitting a 275-yard three wood on to the green – and from there, he holed a 20-foot eagle putt to claim a share of the lead.

Afterwards Goosen was happy with his performance but refused to speak about the horrors of day one.

“I had a good round today, and my driver was working well.”

Asked about the 17th in round one, Goosen added: “It’s history, there is nothing to say.”

Westwood’s round was error free as he sank three birdies on the back nine to turn on seven under and then added another on the seventh to take him top on eight under with two holes to play before he was overtaken.