Dawrie van der Walt takes lead at Air Capital Classic

Every golf tournament and course on the Web.com Tour is different, but Dawrie van der Walt treats them all the same.

The South Africa native carries identical goals into each event. They are simple. Obviously, he wants to make the cut. That’s goal No. 1. From there, he fights to reach 10-under par. That’s it. If he accomplishes both he leaves happy, regardless of how the rest of the field performs.

He appears on his way to both two rounds into the Air Capital Classic. At 9-under 131 following a 67 on Friday at Crestview Country Club, he has sole possession of the lead, one shot clear of Miguel Angel Carballo and Andy Winings, with a pack of five others at 7-under, including first-round leader Seamus Power.

“I should be in pretty good shape if I just keep playing the way I am right now,” van der Walt said. “And make a few more putts.”

Statements like that should serve as a scary thought for the golfers hoping to make a move up the leaderboard this weekend.

Though van der Walt, a Lamar alum who now lives in Texas, has played well enough to make 10 birdies against one bogey and take the 36-hole lead, he has not hit his figurative stride — at least on the greens. His first birdie of the second round didn’t come until No. 7 when he chipped in.

“I feel like I haven’t played my best,” he said. “So to be in this position, I feel like I am very fortunate. I couldn’t get a putt to drop for the first two days. I haven’t been in real big trouble, though. Hopefully I can make some more putts on the weekend.”

The biggest challenge van der Walt faced on Friday was the weather. He was scheduled to be one of the first golfers on the course with a 7:30 a.m. tee time, but a lightning delay of three hours left him twiddling his thumbs in the clubhouse. He arrived near dawn for a warm-up session, but he wasn’t done with his round until the sun was on its way down.

Of course, that was an issue for everyone. Every golfer had to wait three hours before teeing off. Twenty four golfers had holes remaining when play was suspended by darkness, including Winings after 14 holes, meaning they will have to finish their rounds Saturday morning before tournament officials can establish a cut line and set tee times for the third round.

Those that best handled the distraction best handled the course.

One of the best rounds of the day came from Carballo, of Buenos Aries. He shot a 65 that featured three birdies and an eagle. Combined with an opening 67, he is well-positioned at 8-under. The only score better was a 64 from Kyle Thompson.

Carballo has finished second in two tournaments this season. A victory would serve as a breakthrough, for many reasons. He also ranks sixth on the Web.com money list. A win would push him to first.

“That is my No. 1 goal,” Carballo said through his caddie/interpreter. “This year, obviously I am playing well. The object of the game is to win the money list. It gets you a lot more tournaments next year and that is what I want. I just have got to keep playing well, keep trying to hit it well, get it on the green and give myself a chance with my putter. I am playing well in all phases of the game and I want to make the most of this.”

Those that arrived early got a treat watching Carballo’s group. Scott Gutschewski, of Omaha, was also in the threesome, and he shot a 66 to climb into a tie for third with D.H. Lee, Brett Stegmaier, Matt Mabrey and Power.

Both golfers fed off each other.

“It is always better to be playing with someone who is playing good,” Gutschewski said.

Rounds were not as low as some expected them to be, considering the soft greens, but nearly half the golfers found a way to break par, pushing the projected cut line to 1-under par.

“The wind was the exact opposite today,” Power said. “That always makes it tricky. You had to basically re-learn the course.”

Other notable golfers in contention include Wichita State alum Ryan Spears (-5 through 14 holes), and defending champion Sebastian Cappelen (-4).

The third round will begin at approximately 10 a.m. Saturday, with play expected to finish by 5 p.m.

Van der Walt made a birdie putt on the final hole to clinch a spot in the final group. Like always, though, that was not his motivation.

“I am trying to do my own thing and worry too much about what other guys are doing,” he said. “I have got a target in my head and I just try to get to that. That is all I can do.”

This story was originally published June 26, 2015 at 9:34 PM with the headline "Dawrie van der Walt takes lead at Air Capital Classic."