By SANDRA MWILA at Lusaka golf club –
ONLY Madalitso Muthiya and Dayne Moore yesterday made the cut from the 11 Zambian gofers that entered the Zanaco Masters golf tournament main draw.
With the cut set at two-over-par 146 after two rounds, the nine other Zambians easily fell off with Lusaka golfer Muthiya and his Ndola counterpart going through a nervy ending to make the cut.
Muthiya, posted a three-under on the opening day but yesterday had a bad day with a disappointing three-over-par 75 to bring his two round total to par- 144.
Muthiya,  finished his first nine holes with three-over and his case was not helped when he bogeyed again on his 12th hole of the day to go one-over overall but held his nerve to sink a birdie on hole number eight (his 17th) to finish on level par after two rounds.
Having teed off early, he then had to watch anxiously as the projected cut kept moving and sighed relief when it was eventually set at two-over.
Muthiya said in an interview after his round that the competition had just began but will not put pressure on himself in the coming two rounds.
He said though that he played well but dropped a number of shots on putting, which is his strongest part of the game, hence shooting three-over 75.
“I am disappointed but it’s okay.Atleast I have made the cut.I will try to pick up so that I am in contention in the competition,” he said.
Moore’s performance improved from the first day of the competition and yesterday carded a one-under-71 as compared to the three-over-par 75 in round one.
This meant that the South African based golfer brought home a total two-over-par 146 after two rounds to barely make the cut.
Moore said the weather was more favourable yesterday as it was less windy in the afternoon when he teed-off.
He did however express disappointment with his putting and promised to improve.
“I won’t put pressure on myself, I will just do my best and work on my putting no wonder I am here practicing. The course is in good condition though the greens are bumpy,” he said.
South African golfer Alex Haindl took over leadership with an impressive nine-under-135 on Day-Two.
Haindl posted a huge improvement on the second day having started with a one-under-71.
The South African shot six birdies,three on each side of the course and topped it up with an eagle on hole number two.
In second place was Portuguese golfer Stephen Ferreira with a total eight-under-par 138 to over throw South African Wynand Dingle.
Ferreira repeated his four-under-par 68 from the first day.
Dingle, who started with a six-under-par 66 went two-over-par 74 yesterday to have a two-day total of four-under-par 140.
Therewill be no room for Patrick Mwendapole in today’s draw after he finished on a disappointing five-over-par 149.