Durban - Louis Oosthuizen fired a second round 64 to move to 12 under at the halfway stage in the Volvo Golf Champions European Tour event at Durban Country Club on Friday.
Oosthuizen leads by a stroke over Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and Scott Jamieson of Scotland who are both on 11 under.
'King Louis' capped off a solid bogey-free round by nailing a long range birdie putt on the driveable par four 18th. Oosthuizen looked as if he would be unable to pick up a shot after finding the greenside bunker. Despite having to play away from the hole with his second, he managed to roll in the long putt for birdie.
Oosthuizen also holed a similar length putt on the par four 17th to help him to the 36 hole lead on his own.
Earlier, Oosthuizen began his round with two pars before reeling off three birdies in a row from the third hole par five, as he made the turn in five under.
As the rain strengthened on the back nine, Oosthuizen produced consistent golf with three pars on the trot. On the 13th, he picked a birdie on the 310 metre par four, before ending with the grandstand finish to snatch the halfway lead.
Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand led overnight and compiled a three under 69 in rainy conditions.
Jamieson who won the Nelson Mandela Championship in December down the road at Royal Durban Golf Club - also affected by heavy rains - thrived in the wet conditions with his own round of 64.
The Scot's round included nine birdies and a bogey, including three birdies in a row on the back nine.
Crowd favourite Ernie Els struggled to a level par 72 to leave himself eight strokes adrift heading into the weekend. - Sapa