David Drysdale swept to the top of the leaderboard with a second round 66 at the Joburg Open which leaves him 11 under par at the halfway stage.
The Scot followed his opening 65 on the East Course with a five under par round on the West Course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
That gives him a one stroke advantage over Oliver Bekker - who carded a six under par 65 to move into the clubhouse lead late on the second morning before being overhauled by the 33 year old in the afternoon - and Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey.
South African Bekker is at ten under overall with his compatriot Andrew McLardy a shot further back – the home favourite notching up three birdies at the start of the back nine en route to a second round 68.
Another Briton to make an impression on day two of the co-sanctioned European Tour and Sunshine Tour event was Danny Willett of England, who moved to nine under overall with a 66, while six under rounds each from Richard McEvoy and Tyrone van Aswegen saw them move to eight under for the tournament.
Also on eight under is Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello, who birdied the 18th to record a 69.
Hoey, who was a shot off the first day leaders, completed a three under par round which was interrupted by thunder and lightning in the afternoon.
Bekker said: “I don’t think I could have had a better draw for this tournament because I was off first in the afternoon on the east getting the good greens and I didn’t have to worry about thunderstorms in the afternoon.
“I didn’t have a good finish at the end of last year, so I’m just trying to manage myself better on the golf course by cutting out the bogeys, maybe not playing as aggressively and try a little more conservative shots and playing within myself.
“I think it’s been paying off especially yesterday as I found all 18 greens in regulation and it makes it easy putting for birdie every hole.”
McLardy said: “I had several weeks off and I was looking forward to it throughout that time because I like the course and read the greens well. I’ve had success here since amateur golf in 1992 and won a few tournaments here with a few low scores.”
