Staff WriterHerman Loubser has put himself in the driver’s seat at the Mopani Zambia Open, firing a second consecutive five-under-par 67 on Friday at Nkana Golf Club.
The 24-year-old South African now sits on 10 under par, a comfortable three shots clear as the weekend looms.
But don’t be fooled—this wasn’t a stroll in the park. Loubser’s ball-striking was more wayward than he’d have liked, and he freely admitted as much.
“I didn’t hit the ball that good today, especially off the tee. I left myself a lot of work to do with the short game, but luckily my short game was really good today. My short game saved me today,” he said.
It was a mixed bag for the leader. A double bogey on the 10th threatened to derail his momentum, but he kept his nerve with a deft touch around the greens.
It’s a reminder that at the Mopani Zambia Open, even the leaders have to dig deep to stay on track.
Samuel Simpson lurks three back at seven under par, thanks to a second-round 65 that had more birdies than a Sunday picnic.
Simpson’s gameplan was rock solid. “I got off to a solid start today. My gameplan was just to birdie the par-fives and to plot my way around the golf course.
I turned in four under and then just stuck to the strategy. There are still two more rounds, the course isn’t easy, and I’ve just got to stick to my processes. If it adds up to a good total at the end, I will be happy.”
Simpson, who’s already racked up two top-10 finishes this year, has the form and the attitude to make it a real contest.
He’s not alone either, with defending champion MJ Viljoen and seasoned campaigner Hennie Otto part of a logjam at six under par.
Otto, who knows how to grind it out when the going gets tough, is banking on patience and poise. “The golf course is in unbelievable condition, but it gives and takes.
You need a bit of luck, especially on the greens. The key this weekend is patience,” Otto said.
As we head into moving day at the Mopani Zambia Open, the leaderboard is stacked and the course is demanding nothing less than excellence.
Loubser’s got the edge for now, but he knows the Nkana Golf Club won’t give an inch to anyone not playing smart and steady.
If the opening rounds are anything to go by, there’s plenty of drama still to come. After all, this is the Mopani Zambia Open—a tournament that always rewards those who keep their wits about them and respect the game.
Let’s see who can do just that when the stakes get even higher this weekend.
