Pablo Larrazábal holds a three shot lead heading into the weekend at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
The 36-year-old Spaniard added a three under par 69 to his opening 66 at Leopard Creek Country Club.
At nine under, he lies three shots clear of overnight leader Wil Besseling and South Africa’s Branden Grace.
Larrazábal, who won the last of his four European Tour titles in 2015, chipped to tap-in range at the long second to set up an easy birdie.
He double bogeyed the seventh after his tee shot found water, but then caught fire in scorching conditions on the back nine.
One of the few players not taking advantage of special dispensation to wear shorts – Larrazábal commented after his opening round that he felt more like he meant business in trousers – he birdied the tenth from 25 feet to joint-lead with Besseling.
The former Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year then pitched to four feet at the 11th and registered an early bid for putt of the season with a 100-foot effort on the 12th.
A further gain from eight feet followed on the 13th, but Larrazábal found sand from the tee and three-putted the 14th to hand a shot straight back.
An up and down from a bunker on the long 15th completed Larrazábal’s scoring for the day.
“It was a good job, it wasn’t an easy day,” said Larrazabal. “The wind was swirling around and gusting and this golf course was tough.
“I made a big mistake on the seventh, I didn’t trust what my game plan was, but I was playing good enough to start making birdies again and that’s what I did.
“I had a lot of patience out there. I know I’m playing good, I know I’m playing aggressive enough to make birdies and get on a run.
“If you have patience out there the putts are going to drop, they did drop today and I’m happy with a 69.”
Home favourite Grace, who has won four of his eight European Tour titles on home soil including a victory here five years ago, made three birdies and a single bogey in his two under 70.
Besseling fought hard to stay in contention and as he mixed three bogeys with two birdies in signing for a 73.
Home favourite Thomas Aiken and English pair Marcus Armitage and Jack Singh Brar share fourth on four under.
