Tamburlini Turns Up the Heat in Cape Town
Swiss star surges to Investec SA Women’s Open lead with sizzling 65
Augusta, Georgia - Chiara Tamburlini scorched Erinvale Country & Golf Estate with a flawless 7-under 65 to grab the halfway lead at the Investec SA Women’s Open in Cape Town.
The Swiss 25-year-old, who started the day three off the pace, caught fire early with birdies on her opening two holes and never cooled off. A further five birdies followed in a bogey-free display that matched the sunshine lighting up the Western Cape.
“I’m really happy with how I played,” said Tamburlini. “All my chips were close and I took advantage of the good approaches. Overall, just a really good day.”
It’s a timely return to form for the three-time LET winner, who took time off after the Ford Women’s NSW Open to rest a niggling wrist. She isn’t getting ahead of herself, though.
“I’m focusing on small goals. Of course, I want to win again but I know I need to hit a bunch of good shots for that.”
Just one behind is France’s Perrine Delacour, the overnight leader, who held steady until a rare three-putt bogey at the last.
“Even with that, it’s been two good days,” she said. “The view helps – you mess up a hole, you look up, and remember it’s just golf.”
Germany’s Aline Krauter remains firmly in the mix at 8-under, despite calling her second round “a little rougher”. She’ll lean on local knowledge from her South African caddie as the pressure rises over the weekend.
A logjam sits at 7-under, including home hopefuls Kiera Floyd and Gia Raad, France’s Nastasia Nadaud, England’s Bronte Law, Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck, Australia’s Kelsey Bennett and Northern Ireland’s Annabel Wilson.
Floyd nearly matched Tamburlini’s effort but stumbled with a late three-putt on the 18th.
And for the second day in a row, the par-three 14th provided fireworks, this time courtesy of South Africa’s Danielle du Toit, who aced the hole to match Namibia’s Bonita Bredenhann’s feat from Thursday.
With 70 players surviving the cut at one-under, Saturday’s third round begins at 9am local time, with the leaders set to tee off at 11:01am. Expect more sunshine, more low scores—and plenty more birdies from the red-hot Tamburlini.