South African Dean Burmester moved into pole position to follow his close friend and compatriot Jake Roos into the AEGEAN Airlines Challenge Tour by Hartl Resort winners’ circle as a course record-equalling eight under second round 63 moved him three clear at the top in Germany.
The four-time Sunshine Tour winner leap-frogged Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia - the man who set the course record on day one to earn the first round lead - and moved to 12 under par for the tournament, just one shot shy of Roos’ winning score last year - although the par had been reduced by one to 71.
Much like his friend and 2014 Challenge Tour Graduate Roos, Burmester in a seasoned winner on Africa's top tour and two of his victories have come this season.
No wonder, then, the 26 year old is feeling confident heading into the weekend on a Beckenbauer Course which he believes is perfectly suited for South Africans.
“It’s awesome to tie the course record from yesterday,” said the Zimbabwe-born player, who has birdied 14 of his 36 holes this week, with an eagle to boot. “I played very nicely so I’m really happy. The key to my success is that this is probably the closest it gets to home conditions for me.
I’d like to think I know how to go on and win
“The heat has been tremendous over the past few days and there has been a little bit of wind around, but I also found something in my putting stroke just before I teed off in the first round and it seemed to carry on today.
“I made a couple of good putts coming in and that gave me this good score. I’m really happy out there, I’m feeling comfortable and I like the look of the golf course.
“I won two this year so I’ve hit a bit of a purple patch and I’m just trying to ride the wave. I’d like to think I know how to go on and win. You learn how to do it, there’s no other way, you just learn from experience.
“You unfortunately learn by coming second. Some days you’ll win and you don’t know how you did it. Other days it’s just flawless. I’ve come second a few times and I’ve been playing well for a while now. I’m really looking to broaden my horizons and if I do end up lifting the trophy on Sunday that will be a step in the right direction.”
Remarkably, Burmester had a run of four successive top 20 finishes on The European Tour earlier this year but, having missed the registration deadline for Membership on the top tier, he is now determined to earn his place on The 2016 Race to Dubai via the Challenge Tour.
He is certainly not short of inspiration and advice - another one of his confidantes and his room-mate this week, Justin Walters, holds the honour of being the inaugural Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year, picking up the award after following up his 2012 graduation with a 64th place finish in The 2013 Race to Dubai.
Justin Walters received the inaugural Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year Award in 2013
“I’m trying to get my card through the Challenge Tour this year so I’ll be playing a lot for the rest of the season. I’m heading back now for the birth of my son and then after that my wife and my baby will come out travelling in Europe.
“I played nicely on The European Tour this year and it’s really nice to be out here, it’s a really strong tour. There are a lot of good players and the growth of the game all over the world is tremendous. This is one of the better places to be, in Europe.
“Obviously Justin and I are from the same management company (Hype Sports Management) and that really helps. He’s kind of mentoring me through Europe, how to play, how to travel and that sort of thing because it’s quite an eye-opener coming up from South Africa.
“Jake did so well last year and he’s a good friend of mine so it’s really nice to see that we can play out here and when we get conditions like this we really have to take advantage.”
Gouveia, meanwhile, carded four birdies on the way to a one under par 70 and although he admitted it was difficult to follow up such a stunning first round, he was happy to still be right in the mix heading into the weekend in Bad Greisbach.
“Yesterday I hit better irons shots and hit it better off the tee,” said the 23 year old, who won his maiden Challenge Tour title at the EMC Golf Challenge Open 2014 in Rome. “I gave myself more chances yesterday.
Ricardo Gouveia
“Today I started a bit shaky but then I started playing well. I made a mistake on the back nine but I felt like I played well overall, just didn’t hit it as well as the first day.
“It’s tough to come out here and follow up an eight under round with another good one. I think I did a pretty good job and I’m happy I’m up there fighting for the win.
“There have been two or three occasions this year where I’ve felt like I could have won and I didn’t so I hope I can get the job done this weekend. You learn how to calm yourself and deal with those situations.
“It’s all about experience and I think I’m getting better and better. I’m glad I’m having this many opportunities on the Challenge Tour to get close to the leads and hopefully it’s good practice for The European Tour next year.”
There were three players a shot further back on eight under par - Swede Björn Åkesson (68), Hugues Joannes (67) of Belgium and England’s Matthew Southgate, whose six under 65 included a superb six under par 29 on the front nine, his back nine after teeing off at the tenth.
Damian Ulrich became the second player of the day to equal the course record when he carded a 63 which included a bogey, and he moved to tied sixth on seven under alongside Englishman Paul Howard (70).
