Robert Rock moved into the lead when the second round of the Joburg Open began at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington.
The Englishman still had to complete his first round when he returned to the course after thunderstorms caused a four hour delay on the opening day.
The Italian Open winner birdied the last two holes on the East Course to match the best round there – a seven under par 65 – then eagled the second on the easier West Course.
At nine under par Rock was one ahead of overnight leaders Damien McGrane and Jamie Elson, both of whom were yet to resume after starting the week with 63s on the West Course.
They had been joined by South Africans Jbe Kruger and Branden Grace, who both turned in a three under 33 on the West Course, and Scotland’s Craig Lee, who was one under after three holes on the East layout.
Lee holed an eight footer for birdie at the sixth, and his compatriot Scott Jamieson turned in 31 as the pair joined Rock and Grace on nine under on an increasingly congested leaderboard.
