Goosen powers into contention in SA

Retief Goosen made a superb burst around the turn to share the early lead in the South African Open at Serengeti today.

Winner of the title in 1995 and 2006, Goosen finished the back nine with a hat-trick of birdies and then eagled the 382-yard second to reach six under par.

He was alongside Scotland’s Steven O’Hara, who at 134th on the European Tour Order of Merit needs a top-four finish to secure his card for next season.

The former Walker Cup player had his own eagle at the long eighth, turned in 32 and then added birdies on the 11th and 12th.

One behind were Dane Soren Hansen and Goosen’s fellow South African Jbe Kruger, but their compatriot Darryn Lloyd, also five under after 14 holes, crashed off the leaderboard with a triple-bogey seven at the 460-yard sixth.

England’s Simon Dyson, ninth on the money list, was only one over with seven to play, while five-time winner Ernie Els, who beat Goosen by a shot in Durban last December, was among the later starters.