Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France climbed to the top of the South African Open leaderboard on Friday after shooting a 65 to lie 12 under par for the tournament.
Lorenzo-Vera enjoys a two-shot lead at the par-72 Pearl Valley Golf Estates course over Lee Westwood of England, Damien McGrane of Ireland and South African duo Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel.
The 23-year-old Frenchman from Biarritz with a best European Tour finish of joint second in the China Open last April played flawless golf on another sunny day in the Western Cape, scoring five birdies on the front nine and a further two on the back nine.
”If the wind stays away I’ll be in with a chance come Sunday,” said Lorenzo-Vera. ”I was happy with my iron play and hit most of the greens and my putting was not too bad either.”
Els’s second 67 in a row left him strongly positioned to capture his fifth SA Open title and had it not been for a wayward approach at the par-five 18th, he may well have been sole occupant of second spot.
He managed only a bogey five at the last after miscalculating the yardage to the green, but was satisfied with his round.
”I thought I hit my irons nicely today [Friday] and with the greens as soft as they are, it allows one to be pretty aggressive,” said the three-time Major winner.
”My driving off the tee was also quite nice so overall it went okay out there.”
Els recorded birdies at the third, fifth and eighth with a bogey at the seventh before coming in with three further birdies.
The South African said the tournament was set up nicely for the weekend with numerous golfers poised to challenge for the title.
”There are some great names up there on the leaderboard so there’s everything to play for,” he said.
McGrane shot a spectacular 64, with a 30 on his front nine, while Schwartzel’s 65 also left him two off the pace.
”It was a good round for me. I didn’t make too many mistakes,” said Schwartzel.
First round leader Fabrizio Zanotti of Paraguay managed only a 72 to remain eight under and share ninth place, four shots off the pace.
Defending champion James Kingston of South Africa shot a disappointing 74 to finish two over and miss the halfway cut.
A high-profile competitor who made the cut on his final hole was Justin Rose of England. He chipped in for a birdie three at the 17th and made a par five at the last after being in rough next to the green for three to finish one under. — AFP
