Clarke improves in Sun City

Darren Clarke made up ground today in the hope of defending his Dimension Data Pro-Am title in South Africa while the seemingly…

Darren Clarke made up ground today in the hope of defending his Dimension Data Pro-Am title in South Africa while the seemingly impregnable Retief Goosen consolidated his position at the top of the leaderboard.

Both were competing on two different courses, the Gary Player Country Club and the Lost City courses in Sun City, before the reduced field completes the event at the former over the weekend.

Clarke, who played the Gary Player course, climbed to three-under with today’s four-under 68 and trails the mid-point leader, Scott Drummond, by eight shots after the Scot carded a five-under 67.

Drummond's only bogey of the round was at the infamous par-three 13th, a green guarded by a crocodile pit. The Challenge Tour player is chased by two South Africans, Desvonde Botes and Craig Lile, who both shot 68’s to share second on nine-under.

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Paul McGinley made some improvement with today’s 70 but at one-under the Dubliner is well off the pace going into the weekend. James Loughnane, the third Irish player at the Gary Player course will take no further part in the event after today’s 78 left him on seven-over 151.

Meanwhile, Goosen continues to lead on 11-under following today’s 70 at the Lost City course. Yet again the US Open Champion enjoyed two eagles in his round, ironically on the first and final hole, but unlike yesterday there were two bogeys and no birdies in between.

Equally satisfying from an Irish standpoint was seeing Paddy Gribben’s name still challenging for the lead. The former Walker Cup member shot a second consecutive 68 and moved to within three of Goosen in a share of second alongside Tjaart van der Walt from South Africa.

Peter Lawrie improved his position with a three-under 69 but is still only one-over 145 while Ciaran McMonagle is one shot further back after a stumbling 76. The damage was made on the front nine as the Donegal player went out in five-over 41.

Despite today’s 71 David Higgins will not be around for the weekend, the Waterville professional finished on four-over 148.