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January 12, 2013

Oosthuizen takes Volvo lead

The Associated Press Associated Press

DURBAN, South Africa — Louis Oosthuizen made a long birdie putt at the final green to take a one-shot lead after the second round of the Volvo Champions — and swapped a car for an excavator to use on his South African farm.

Oosthuizen had an 8-under 64 Friday on a rain-softened Durban Country Club course for a 12-under 132 total, one shot ahead of Scotland’s Scott Jamieson (64) and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (68).

By sinking the last putt, Oosthuizen’s team won a pro-am event that awarded a car to the winners. However, the farming enthusiast talked to organizers and swapped the car for an excavator, which happened to be the prize for anyone who made a hole-in-one at the 15th.

Six others trail Thongchai and Jamieson by six shots.

Oosthuizen added to his collection of agricultural equipment — after raising a few eyebrows when he won the 2010 British Open and spent a large chunk of his prize money on a customized tractor for his farm. On Friday, the South African, Thongchai and an amateur player won the pro-am event.

“I’ve been nagging my wife for a few years that I want something on the farm as there are a few stumps and things I need to get rid of,” Oosthuizen said. “And that’s why I stood over that putt on 18 for a bit longer than normal. So I’m going to play around with it and might dig out a few bunkers.”

Oosthuizen owns a farm near Mosel Bay on the southern coast of South Africa.

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