Da Silva Forges Ahead at Africa Open


After completing his first-round 10-under 62 Friday morning, Adilson Da Silva continued on and shot a 4-under 68 in the afternoon to take a four-stroke lead through 36 holes of the Africa Open. The European Tour event began Thursday at East London Golf Club in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Thursday's first round was suspended by darkness after high winds postponed play for over three hours, with many of the players in the field forced to return Friday morning to complete it. Da Silva fired five birdies in his first six holes on Thursday before heading to the clubhouse.

Though he wasn't quite as hot Friday morning, the 41-year-old got another birdie on the ninth and added a chip-in eagle on the par-5 15th and two more birdies to close out his 62. He added five birdies - and his only dropped shot through 36 holes, a bogey on the par-4 11th - for the 68.

Jaco Van Zyl, who completed his opening 66 Thursday, was unable to finish his second round due to darkness and is at 11-under with four holes remaining.

Da Silva said he was among the lucky ones who didn't start play Thursday morning in the heaviest winds, which were moving balls on the greens and eventually forced a lengthy suspension of play.

"I got a good break yesterday," he said. "It was extremely hard out there for the morning field, and then I got the break and I just started making some putts. I somehow just felt the pace, and my caddie and I are reading the greens very well.

"My putting has been letting me down lately, and it just came alive," Da Silva added. "I must have had 23, 24 putts, which must make it my best round in putting. I was averaging 32 putts a round in Asia last year."

Tied for third at 8-under 136 were two South Africans, Darren Fichardt (67) and Oliver Bekker (67).

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2013/tournamentid=2013013/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y.