Edoardo Molinari wasted little time when the South African Open Championship third round began as the Italian went in search of a fifth win in three months.
Since capturing the Kazakhstan Open on the Challenge Tour in September, Molinari has gone on an incredible run that has included victory with brother Francesco in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
And he raced out of the blocks with back to back birdies on the opening holes of his third round at Pearl Valley Golf Estates, propelling him to nine under par for the week.
That took him to a share of second place in the early exchanges, alongside Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares but two adrift of halfway leader Pablo Martin, who was level par for his round through two holes.
The 23 year old Spaniard is also in fine fettle having won the Alfred Dunhill Championship last week, and is aiming to emulate South African Richard Sterne who completed consecutive wins in the same two events last year.
James Kingston moved to two under through five to climb into a share of fourth place, alongside Dane Anders Hansen who dropped a shot at the first.
