Scot Drysdale edges ahead

The Scotsman has been incredibly consistent through his first two days at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club with not a single dropped shot on his card, and his score of 131 kept him a stroke ahead of South African Oliver Bekker and Michael Hoey from Northern Ireland.

Andrew McLardy, another home favourite, also managed to stay among the chasing pack with his three-under 68 moving him to nine under overall, alongside Englishman Danny Willett, who carded a 66, while Richard McEvoy, Tyrone van Aswegen and Rafael Cabrera Bello are on eight-under 134.

But it was Drysdale who impressed most, carding four of his five birdies on the front nine of the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event to go with his birdie-eagle finish on Thursday.

The 33-year-old said: "I'm very pleased, especially after playing well on Thursday with a good eagle finish, which was nice, and just kept it going, so overall very happy.

"I played well all day (on Thursday) and had good chances on the front nine and then chipped in with an eagle at the end on the back nine, it was just a little bit of justice really I think to finish. But so far, so good."

Hoey, who began the competition with a 64 after missing the cut last year, was one of the players affected by a near two-hour rain delay during the early afternoon - but he was more than happy to wait.

"It was just perfect at the end there," reflected the Ballymoney-born golfer.

"There was no wind, which was probably an advantage because it was quite hot earlier on. The weather was perfect."

After his 65, Bekker added: "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."