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Investec South African Open Championship - Day two digest
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Investec South African Open Championship - Day two digest

Everything you need to know from Friday at Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate.

Lawrence and Strydom starred while the Johannesburg wildlife and weather took centre stage in round two of the Investec South African Open Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from the second day's action at Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate.

Weather has its say

Play was halted early by the threat of lightning in the Johannesburg area, leaving the later starters with much of their rounds to play. The players were initially forced off just after 3pm local time and though they returned at 5.15pm, the resumption lasted only 11 minutes before a second and final stoppage.

Strydom sets record

Ockie Strydom played himself into contention in spectacular style with a bogey-free round and a course record. Strydom’s nine-under-par 63 featured two runs of three consecutive birdies, from the fifth to the seventh and again from the 11th to the 13th, and he finished with another pair to set an all-time low. At 11 under for the tournament, he was two shots behind leader Thriston Lawrence - who had held the previous record of 64 and matched it on day one.

Walk on the wild side

The wildlife at Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate was to the fore as television cameras picked up a group of nyala antelope during the morning. The quartet were taking in the low-scoring action at the 13th hole, a 650-yard par five which offered up a succession of birdies plus eagles for James Hart Du Preez, Alejandro Del Rey and Joshua Lee.

Who’s the daddy?

Lawrence had his father to thank as he stayed in front after day two. The South African holed long birdie putts at the second and sixth holes, with mid-length efforts at the eighth and ninth to boot, and lagged his eagle attempt at the fifth to within a foot. Having started at the tenth, that helped him play his inward nine in a three-under-par total of 32 to move to 13 under for the tournament. "My father gave me a tip last week,” he said afterwards. “I was putting terrible the last three weeks and I trusted him and yeah, credit to him, I think that helped, definitely.”

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