Oliver Bekker revealed he was putting no pressure on himself as he moved into contention yet again heading into the weekend at the 2022 Catalunya Championship.
The European Challenge Tour graduate has full playing privileges on the DP World Tour for the first time in his career this season and has certainly been making a big impression.
The seven-time Sunshine Tour winner has five top-tens from nine starts, including a career-best tie for third at the Steyn City Championship.
After an opening 66 gave him a share of the 18-hole lead on day one at PGA Catalunya Golf and Wellness, he had to battle hard for a 72 on day two.
If a win comes, then great. If it doesn’t I’ll try to finish as good as possible
But that still left him just one shot off the lead, although the South African was refusing to get carried away with his fine form.
"I’m just out here to try and enjoy it, I’m not putting too much pressure on myself," he said. "If a win comes, then great. If it doesn’t I’ll try to finish as good as possible. It’s my first year out here, I’m just trying to secure my card and try to see where I can get."
He added: "It was tough today, I struggled off the tee mostly, didn’t hit a lot of fairways. If you are out of position around here you are going to struggle, so it felt like it was 36 holes out there today. Just glad to get back in level par.
"The greens are a bit firmer and playing so late they were getting a little bit bumpy, hard to make putts. It is what it is, tomorrow we come back luckily and fight again."
