JOHANNESBURG – Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel grabbed a one-stroke lead at the midway point of the second round of the SA Open at Randpark on Friday, after recording a bogey-free 63 on the Bushwillow course.
He made six birdies to go with an eagle to be at 12-under-par after two rounds, and one stroke better than Zambia’s Madalitso Muthiya, who fired an impressive three-under-par 68 on the more challenging Firethorn course.
Schwartzel opened with a four-under-par 67 on Firethorn on Thursday, while Muthiya recorded a 63 on Bushwillow in the first round.
Sitting in third place on 10-under-par was the USA’s Kurt Kitayama after he registered a two-under-par-69 to go with his opening score of 63 on Bushwillow on Thursday.
First-round leader Louis Oosthuizen slipped back for a tie for seventh after starting with a bogey-five on the first hole on the Firethorn course, before steadying with four pars in a row.
All 240 players each play a round on Bushwillow and Firethorn before Friday evening’s cut, after which the final two rounds will only be played on Firethorn.
Schwartzel is seeking a first SA Open title after twice being a runner-up.
. @CA_Schwartzel has hit the front @SAOpen_Golf and leads on -12 after a 63 today. pic.twitter.com/zbNKEBxP56
— SunInternationalGolf (@golfatsun) December 7, 2018
Friday’s second round is due to be completed around 6pm.
Madalitso Muthiya of Zambia leads the @SAOpen_Golf after completing his second round on the Firethorn course at @RandparkGolf. @IOLsport @Sunshine_Tour @EuropeanTour pic.twitter.com/KTcXfVr76U
— Jacques vdWesthuyzen (@jacq_west) December 7, 2018
@jacq_west
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