Richard Finch’s first thought as his tee-shot headed straight for the cup on the par-three 12th hole on the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington East Course was “Oh no!”

Finch’s hole-in-one helped him into a share of the lead after the second round of the Joburg Open, but his initial feeling was that he had achieved the “perfect fluke” on the wrong day.

“On 12 I looked at the back of the tee and read the board which said there was a million rand available for a hole-in-one in the final round. As my shot landed I turned around and said ‘Oh no!’ because I had hit it on the perfect line,” Finch said.

The ball went slightly downhill before lodging in the hole, so Finch only knew he had sunk his tee shot by the reaction of the spectators around the green.

“Some of [playing partner] Darren Fichardt’s family and friends were at the green and they started cheering, so it was clear it had gone in,” Finch said.

Finch’s six-iron from 188 metres was the highlight of a top-class round of six-under-par 66 on the tough East Course that saw the Englishman soar to 11-under-par overall and a share of the lead with countryman Robert Rock and South Africa’s George Coetzee.

“Starting today at five-under-par was interesting – a few birdies and you’re right up there amongst the lead, but a couple of bogeys and you miss the cut. But I’m delighted with today, I thought some of the pins were really tucked away, so I just tried to be sensible and get it on to the green to give myself a chance. I managed to roll a few in, which was good,” the 34-year-old said.

While there may not be any formal award for Finch’s second-round hole-in-one, his other ace in South Africa did net him a most useful prize.

“I made one at Humewood a few years ago during the SA Open. It was sponsored by South African Airways, so I won a million air miles, which was nice.”

One imagines Finch didn’t protest too much either when he made a hole-in-one at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2010 and won a bottle of Blue!

The European Tour regular will be after the big prize in Johannesburg, however, – a third title, a one-year exemption, 22 points for the world rankings and the winner’s cheque of R1.8 million.