Veteran Welshman Jamie Donaldson stormed through the course at Sun City on Friday, sinking 10 birdies in a round of 63 to share the lead with Christiaan Bezuidenhout at the halfway mark of the South African Open.
They were on a 10-under-par total of 134 after two rounds with a two-shot lead over the field, while Irish interest in the competition has come to an end.
Cormac Sharvin's 78 saw him finish on six-over par, while Jonathan Caldwell was a further shot back after a second round 79.
45-year-old Donaldson, who started the day one-under-par, could even afford a dropped shot in his blistering round as he came within one shot of Lee Westwood’s course record at the Gary Player Country Club.
Bezuidenhout missed a short putt on the 18th for a birdie that would have given him a one-shot lead as he seeks a second successive European Tour title after winning last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship.
The 26-year-old South African, however, still made no errors in his round of 67.
Home players Dean Burmester and Dylan Frittelli were eight-under-par in joint third.
