Branden Grace established a commanding clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club.
The South African was three clear overnight after a superb opening 62, and added a 66 on Friday to reach 16 under par.
Starting on the back nine, Grace - who won all four of his European Tour titles during a memorable 2012 campaign – had four birdies in an outward 33 before picking up another shot at the first.
His only dropped shot of the day came at the short fifth, but Grace birdied the sixth and finished with a lengthy putt for a closing gain on the ninth that put him six clear of compatriot Tjaart van der Walt.
“It was great – the ball striking wasn’t as good as yesterday,” said Grace. “I kept it going - there was a little bit of a slip there due to a lack of concentration but it happens.
“I’ve been hitting it good and kept on hitting good putts out there.
“This is a golf course that suits me and if I keep hitting everything in play the way I have been the first two days then it should be a good weekend.
“The pins have been kind so far; I’m sure there’s going to be a couple of tricky and sticky pins out there on the weekend but I’ll just stick to the game plan and see what the next two rounds offer us.”
Twice a runner-up on The European Tour, van der Walt had five birdies before three-putting the ninth – his last – for his only bogey in a round of 67.
Another South African, Shaun Norris, last week’s Nedbank Challenge winner Danny Willett and Dane Lucas Bjerregaard – who chipped in at the last for eagle – were tied for third on nine under.
Defending champion Charl Schwartzel, looking to become only the sixth player in European Tour history to win the same event three years running, carded a two under 70 to be 11 shots adrift of leader Grace.
The main threat to Grace’s dominance from the afternoon wave of players appeared to be Italy’s Francesco Molinari, who followed five birdies in his first 12 holes with an eagle at the long 13th to move into second place on 11 under.
The two-time Ryder Cup star then wasted a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit to four, missing a three foot putt at the 14th following a magnificent approach.
