Golf:Charl Schwartzel's magnificent recent run continued with an eight-under-par 64 in the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa today.

Fifth, third, second and first in his last four starts, the 2011 US Masters champion moved level with France’s Gregory Bourdy on 13 under par at the halfway stage at Leopard Creek.

Winner in Thailand by an incredible 11-stroke margin on Sunday, the 28-year-old South African has yet to drop a stroke and picked up an eagle and six birdies on a course where he has previously had a victory and four runner-up finishes.

Bourdy was not to be outdone, however, and by adding a 65 to his pacesetting opening 66 kept alive his hopes of a fourth European Tour title. The highlight of his round was pitching in for an eagle two at the 319-yard sixth.

Bourdy had just holed from 25 feet on the previous green and he sank another at the eighth as he and Schwartzel moved clear of the chasing pack.

Schwartzel said: “It was a very solid round. I made hardly any mistakes and got away with the odd bad shot.

“It’s out there. If you are playing par fives well and hitting the fairways you can hit some good shots into the greens.

“I’ve not driven as well as I did a couple of weeks ago, but I’m hitting good iron shots and felling good with the putter.”

His fellow South African Darren Fichardt was four strokes back in third place following a 68.

Peter Lawrie recovered from a triple-bogey seven on the fourth hole to card a one-under 71 and move to three under for the tournament. After his early mishap, the Dubliner picked up birdies at the sixth, 11th, 14th and 18th.

Damien McGrane missed the cut after a four-over 76 left him on 10 over for the tournament, while Michael Hoey retired after an opening round of 77.