SUN CITY - Ireland’s Shane Lowry was the big mover during the early stages of the second round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge here on Friday.
After carding an opening round level par 72, the burly Irishman was on song on his front nine earlier, carding four birdies in a blemish-free 32. He picked up a fifth birdie at the par-5 10th hole, but then dropped a shot on the next hole, the par-4 11th.
At four-under par at the halfway stage of the second round, Lowry was just one shot off the lead set by Victor Dubuisson, who picked up a birdie at the par-3 fourth hole, in the very early stages of his second round. Lee Westwood, with four birdies and two bogeys on his front nine, was also at four-under.
Overnight leader Bern Wiesberger had dropped back to three-under after his first four holes after posting a double-bogey five at the par three fourth.
Darren Fichardt’s fairytale week - after only getting into the tournament hours before his 9am tee time on Thursday - continued on Friday morning when he moved up to three-under after posting a 71 in his first round. Three birdies and a lone bogey after 10 holes played left him just two shots off the pace.
Louis Oosthuizen, Haydn Porteous, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace were all at two-under.
5 birdies in 10 holes and only 1 bogey, and Shane Lowry has climbed to -4 and is just one behind leader Victor Dubuisson. #NGC2017 pic.twitter.com/EXTOmTxKPj
— SunInternationalGolf (@golfatsun) November 10, 2017