Harry Hall continued the bright start to his professional career as he fired a 68 to share the clubhouse lead on day two of the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg.
The Englishman made his professional and European Tour debut at last season's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and did not disappoint, outscoring playing partner and four time Major Championship winner Rory McIlroy in the final round as he finished in the top 20.
He moved to nine under on day two at Randpark Golf Club to share the clubhouse lead with local favourite Daniel Greene, who fired a 66.
That was one shot behind overnight leader Johannes Veerman, who picked up a shot in his first six holes to move to ten under.
South African Hennie du Plessis was in the clubhouse at eight under.
Du Plessis was the man to set the early pace on the Firethorn Course as he made five birdies in a row from the third and then added another on the ninth to become the first man this week into double figures.
Bogeys on the 11th and 13th then stalled his progress and Greene took advantage to hit the front.
The 34-year-old was playing the Bushwillow Course and while he turned in 32 with birdies on the fourth, seventh and eighth, he sandwiched another gain on the 12th with bogeys on the 11th and 14th.
A hat-trick of birdies from the 15th catapulted him up the leaderboard but he soon had Hall for company.
The Las Vegas based Cornishman was also playing the Bushwillow and was level par for his round after 11 holes with two birdies and two bogeys.
He came to life on the back nine, however, birdieing the 12th, 15th and 17th to share top spot.
American Veerman had stumbled with a bogey on the first but responded with a hat-trick of gains from the third before bogeying the sixth.
Matthew Baldwin, Peter Karmis and JC Ritchie were all on course at eight under, with Nino Bertasio also at that mark and among the later starters.
