Malelane, South Africa – Charl Schwartzel and Morten Orum Madsen shared the lead after two rounds at the Alfred Dunhill Championship on Friday and will square off again at the back end of a tournament.
Schwartzel lost out to Madsen's late surge in the European Tour's season-opening South African Open last weekend, but the Alfred Dunhill defending champion shot a second straight 68 at Leopard Creek to draw level with the Dane on 8-under 136 at the halfway stage.
Madsen added a 71 to his opening-round 65 to stay on course for a second title in seven days to extend his early lead on the new Race to Dubai.
They lead by a shot from England's Ross Fisher and another Dane, Soren Hansen, who both returned impressive 7-under 65s.
John Daly missed the cut in his second tournament back from elbow surgery after a 75 took him to 3 over par for the tournament.
Schwartzel joined Madsen at the top of the leaderboard with four birdies and no bogeys in his second round. The South African won here by 12 shots last year for his only European Tour victory since his triumph at the 2011 Masters.
Having denied Schwartzel in Johannesburg on Sunday for a maiden tour title, Madsen had a tougher time on the second day in northern South Africa with two bogeys and two double bogeys. At one point, he dropped four shots in three holes but also carded an eagle and five birdies to go 1 under on the day.
Fisher climbed into contention after four birdies and an eagle in his opening nine, and Hansen had eight birdies overall.
Daly, who had surgery on a damaged right elbow tendon in July, started with three bogeys in his opening nine on Friday, then finished with bogey and double bogey to miss out on the second half of the Alfred Dunhill.
South Africa's Hennie Otto, who sits second behind Madsen in the Race to Dubai, was tied for 12th, four off the pace. – Sapa-AP