David Higgins posted a 68 to share eighth spot on day two of the African Open, as Adilson Da Silva took the clubhouse lead, three shots ahead of Jaco Van Zyl in second, and with England’s John Parry a further shot behind in third.
Brazilian Da Silva began the day one shot behind overnight leader Van Zyl but, resuming on the 10th hole after strong winds on the East London course had forced an early end to Thursday’s play, stormed into a four-shot lead by completing a sparkling 10-under-par 62.
Da Silva then carded birdies on the 10th, 13th and 15th holes on a back nine, which also included a bogey on the 11th before pulling two shots back on the return to sign for a a four-under-par 68, which saw him finish the day 14 under and three strokes clear of Van Zyl atop the leaderboard.
Da Silva acknowledged he had been helped by the draw, which meant he had avoided the worst of the heavy gusts his rivals had to deal with.
“I got a good break yesterday,” he said. “It was extremely hard out there for the morning field, and then I got the break and I just started making some putts. I somehow just felt the pace, and my caddie and I are reading the greens very well.
“My putting has been letting me down lately, and it just came alive. I must have had 23, 24 putts, which must make it my best round in putting.”
Van Zyl teed off in the afternoon to reclaim second spot from fellow South African Darren Fichardt when he completed a round of 67, but Parry stayed in touch by picking up five shots on the back nine to finish the day in third place.
The 26-year-old from Harrogate leads Fichardt and his compatriot Oliver Bekker, who both registered 67s, with the latter boosted by two eagles on the front nine.
Portugal’s Ricardo Santos and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy share sixth place after rounds of 66 and 67 respectively .
Leaderboard Africa Open
At East London Golf Club, Eastern Cape
(Irish in bold, British unless stated; cut at 144)
130 – A Da Silva (Brazil) 62 68; 133 – J Van Zyl (Rsa) 66 67; 134 – J Parry 68 66;
136 – D Fichardt (Rsa) 69 67, O Bekker (Rsa) 69 67; 137 – R Santos (Portugal), 71 66 G Bourdy (Fra) 70 67; 138 – David Higgins 70 68, M Tullo (Chile) 69 69, T Van der Walt (Rsa) 70 68;
139 – D Ferreira (Rsa) 69 70, A Levy (Fra) 73 66, G Mulroy (Rsa) 72 67, A Kaleka (Fra) 72 67,
U Van den Berg (Rsa) 71 68; 140 – M Madsen (Den) 71 69, J Kingston (Rsa) 69 71, B Akesson (Swe) 70 70, T Mordt (Rsa) 71 69, A Sullivan 70 70, C Basson (Rsa) 72 68, M Delpodio (Ita) 72 68;
141 – L Jensen (Den) 72 69, A Marshall 75 66
B Rumford (Aus) 71 70, T Fisher (Rsa) 72 69,
D Drysdale 74 67, I Garrido (Spa) 69 72,
T Fleetwood 69 72, E Grillo (Arg) 70 71, C Doak 74 67, L Rowe (Rsa), 74 67 J Luiten (Neth), 74 67, P Erofejeff (Fin) 73 68, D Botes (Rsa) 74 67;
142 – S Benson 71 71, A Curlewis (Rsa) 69 73,
R Strauss (Rsa) 71 71, W Coetsee (Rsa) 69 73,
L Slattery 74 68, L Gagli (Ita) 73 69, R McGowan 73 69; 143 – A Snobeck (Fra) 72 71, J Walters (Rsa) 72 71, M Bremner (Rsa) 72 71, M Jonzon (Swe) 69 74, M Carlsson (Swe) 73 70, N Fasth (Swe) 72 71, S Wakefield 70 73, M Kieffer (Ger) 71 72, P Price 69 74, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 73, J Moore (US) 76 67, C Paisley 73 70, C Coetzee (Rsa) 73 70, J Campillo (Spain) 73 70, L De Jager (Rsa) 72 71; 144 – T Moore (Rsa) 74 70, J Roos (Rsa) 72 72, A Harto (Den) 72 72, K Horne (Rsa) 76 68, J Kruger (Rsa) 73 71, D Van Tonder (Rsa) 73 71, RJ Derksen (Neth) 72 72, C Cevaer (Fra) 74 70, M Williams (Rsa) 73 71, J Ahlers (Rsa) 71 73, M Baldwin 74 70, J Morrison 72 72, V Groenewald (Rsa) 71 73, A Tadini (Ita) 71 73, B Pieters (Rsa) 76 68, D McGuigan (Rsa) 78 66, W Abery (Rsa) 73 71, T Aiken (Rsa) 74 70, M Nixon 77 67, E Pepperell 77 67, D Greene (Rsa) 70 74
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