Brandon Robinson Thompson sparkles on day two in Johannesburg

Brandon Robinson Thompson equalled the course record on a mammoth second day of the 2026 Joburg Open to open up a three-shot lead.

The Englishman was one of 54 players who had to complete their first rounds on Friday morning, following Thursday's weather delay of 105 minutes, before playing another 18 holes.

However, there were no issues with the quick turnaround as Robinson Thompson carded an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey to match South Africa’s Nikhil Rama's course-record 62 at Houghton Golf Club.

That helped the 33-year-old, who had missed the last six cuts, climb to the summit at 12 under, three clear of American Sean Crocker.

Thunder and lightning once again caused play to be suspended at 3.34pm local time before eventually being abandoned at 4.59pm. Players will resume their second rounds at 7am on Saturday morning.

"It was a lot of fun, actually," Robinson Thompson said. "I've been up since 3.45 this morning.

"Honestly didn't think we were even going to get 18 holes in today, with the weather forecast, but we did and I had a lot of fun out there.

"I'm looking forward to the weekend a lot, because it'll be my first in about six attempts. But look, I've been in the mix before and I love that feeling. I love competing.

"Who doesn't want to be at the top of the leaderboard? So I can guarantee you I'll have a good time."

He still had five holes of his first round to complete, but he finished with a flurry thanks to birdies at the fifth, seventh and eighth to reach four under.

It was a swift return to the course for Robinson Thompson, but he clearly had his eye in as he started his second round with birdies at first and second to continue his charge up the leaderboard.

The World Number 267 added another brace of gains from the fourth, but finished his front nine with a bogey as he reached the turn at seven under for the tournament. He then got back on the birdie trail at the tenth and 11th to move one shot ahead at the top.

Robinson Thompson recorded his first hole-out on the DP World Tour with an eagle at the par-four 13th and added another birdie at the 17th to set the clubhouse target of 12 under, which nobody could match.

Crocker was his closest rival at nine under following a flawless second-round of 65, rolling in birdies at the first, fifth, eighth, tenth and last.

Sweden's Hugo Townsend and Nathan Kimsey, who has 15 holes to play of round two, are one shot further back, while South African quartet Louis Albertse, Luke Brown, Ruan Korb and Jayden Schaper - the latter two had yet to complete their second rounds - share fifth at seven under.

Casey Jarvis, who is aiming to become only the third player after Sir Nick Faldo and the late, great Seve Ballesteros to win three consecutive DP World Tour events, sits alongside American Jordan Gumberg, Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner and English pair Dan Bradbury and Todd Clements at six under. Jack Hawksby and Darius van Driel are also at that mark with seven and 12 holes to play respectively.