Michael Vlismas
MALELANE, South Africa (7 December 2007) – Omar Sandys took the spotlight on the biggest stage of his career when he posted a second round 68 to lead by two strokes going into the weekend of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at the Leopard Creek Golf Course on Friday.
Sandys, who shared the first round lead with Ernie Els in the 2001 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, has dropped only two shots in 36 holes and played with remarkable composure on Friday, particularly on a back nine where he had to settle his nerves when he realised he was leading the tournament.
“I started getting really nervous on the back nine,” said Sandys, who responded to that with three birdies in four holes from the 12th and dropped his only shot of the day at the 16th. But on the par-five 18th he produced a magnificent six iron to 15 feet of the hole for his second shot and two-putted for a birdie.
England’s Lee Slattery is his nearest challenger on six under following a sublime 65, while Ernie Els signed for a 69 to place him in a group of players on five under. Darren Clarke climbed to two under with a 69 as well.
Former champion Charl Schwartzel failed to make the halfway cut of two over par, finishing the day on four over with a 73.
Sandys is a true journeyman professional, preferring to travel around South Africa to tournaments in his car rather than fly.
“I put over 480 000 kilometres on my last car before I sold it,” says Sandys. “In fact, last night I was under my car trying to fix a broken clutch. Fortunately I managed to do so.”
Sandys was born in the town of Welkom in the Free State and first went to the golf course with his father at the age of six. He won one tournament – the Kroonstad Open – in his final year as an amateur and then turned professional.
“My life changed when I turned professional, my girlfriend, who is now my wife, used to help me scrape together money to afford to travel to tournaments,” said Sandys, who has an unshakeable faith in the goodness of the world.
“I love everyone on earth and I’m always amazed by the support I get. At the end of the day, it’s all about guts and believing in yourself. I’ve always said, I plan and God drives. So I’m definitely looking forward to the weekend. I just need to stay in the present and focus on it shot by shot. If I can shoot eight under for the next two rounds, it will be great.”
