South African Open: Charl Schwartzel tied for lead after second round 65 at Glendower

 

 

Pre-tournament favourite Charl Schwartzel carded an eagle and seven birdies to tie for the halfway lead at the South African Open.

Schwartzel's second round 65 in the afternoon at Glendower Golf Club saw him match the clubhouse lead of Italian Marco Crespi who had earlier posted 12-under after a 67.

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Former Masters champion Schwartzel, who turned in just 29, said of his fast start: "It was just one of those nines where most things go right. I made some really good iron shots, put myself in play, and the greens are just in such fantastic condition that if you get the line right they go in, and that was pretty much the case.

"I holed some nice putts and played some great shots to turn in seven under. It looked like it could be a really low one at one stage.

"It's nice to turn in a low nine and get yourself quickly up the board. I got a bit derailed by a short putt on 10. Actually a good putt but, late on the afternoon on the greens with all the guys stepping round the hole, I managed to hit a little footprint and it came back at me.

"It sort of put the brakes on a little bit. Who knows what I would have been on if that went in?"

Second round leaderboard

(SA unless stated)

-12 C Schwartzel
-12 M Crespi (Ita)
-11 M O Madsen (Den)
-10 C Basson
-9 Jbe Kruger
-9 J Morrison (Eng)

 

Crespi, 35, has only had his European Tour card seven days after finishing third at the Qualifying School at PGA Golf Catalunya last week.

Pretty amazing

He said: "I missed a lot of fairways and a lot of greens today. My long game was not how I like to play. My putting and chipping was pretty amazing.

"I was expecting a good tournament because I was playing well. Obviously not this big but I'm confident about the weekend. I'll just try to remain calm and play my game."

Morten Orum Madsen is the leading duo's nearest challenger after an impressive 66 left the Dane 11-under and just a shot back.

It would have been even better for Madsen put for a bogey four on the penultimate hole - his only dropped shot of the day.

"I holed some nice putts and played some great shots to turn in seven under."
Charl Schwartzel

Behind Madsen are two South Africans, Christiaan Basson on 10-under after a 68 and Jbe Kruger, looking to regain his full European Tour playing rights having been outside the top 110 on last season's Race to Dubai, at nine-under following his 70 today. England's James Morrison, who carded a 66, is level with Kruger.

Former US Open Champion and two-time winner of this event Retief Goosen had been on course to take his place on the leaderboard but double bogeyed the fifth after hitting a poor drive and seeing his second shot finish against a tree.

The double Major winner eventually signed for a 71 to be part of a large group on seven under.