Danny Willett seven shots off the pace after a three-under 68
Saturday 3 March 2018 16:01, UK
George Coetzee fired a bogey-free 64 on his home course to move into a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Tshwane Open.
The South African, who won the event in 2015, struck seven birdies at Pretoria CC to get to 11 under and edge ahead of nearest challengers Felipe Aguilar and Mikko Korhonen.
Korhonen matched Coetzee's joint-low round of the day and Aguilar carded a four-under 67, while overnight leader Louis de Jager sits in the group four back after a level-par 71.
"I haven't been in contention for a while so it's going to be fun," Korhonen said. "It's a really good score, but I got to take advantage of some good conditions."
Beginning the day three strokes off the pace, Coetzee surged up the leaderboard by following four consecutive gains from the 12th with birdies at the 17th and 18th to reach the turn in 30.
Three birdies in a five-hole stretch from the third by Aguilar were followed by an eagle at the ninth, as Korhonen eagled the same par-five - his final hole - to set the clubhouse target at 10 under.
Aguilar edged ahead after cancelling out a blemish at the 13th with a gain at the 15th, only for the Chilean to bogey the last and give Coetzee - who birdied his penultimate hole - the advantage.
Scotland's Scott Jamieson posted a second-round 69 to sit four strokes off the pace, while Laurie Canter posted a seven-under 64 to join fellow Englishman Matthew Baldwin and Sam Horsfield on five under.
Former Masters champion Danny Willett is seven shots back after making the cut for the first time this season, while top seed Julian Suri slipped down the leaderboard with a three-over 74.
Watch the Tshwane Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Saturday from 10am on Sky Sports Golf.
