Three Share Lead in Volvo Golf Champions


South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, England's Tommy Fleetwood and Joost Luiten of The Netherlands are tied for the lead in the Volvo Golf Champions. The European Tour event began Thursday at Durban Golf Club in South Africa.

The trio stands at 7-under 137 through 36 holes. After opening with a 4-under 68, Oosthuizen - the defending champion - carded a 69 Friday. Fleetwood and Luiten each followed up 70s with 67s. One stroke behind the leaders is Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, who's carded two straight 69s.

Oosthuizen is pleased with his play so far this week. "(My confidence) is good," said the 2010 British Open champion. "I just need to be a bit more aggressive on the greens, on the longer putts. I'm leaving them short. But the way I struck the ball today, to shoot that round, I'm confident in tomorrow to try to make a few more birdies."

Luiten had the shot of the day, a rare double-eagle on the par-5 10th hole. The "albatross" came when his approach to the green roll into the cup. "It was my first albatross," said the 28-year-old, a three-time winner in Europe.

"I hit a 4-iron and basically went straight at it and it just pitched exactly where I wanted, just in front of the green and then hoped it would just release up the slope and that's what it did. It went straight at the pin and it went in."

Italy's Matteo Manassero (67) is in solo fifth at 5-under 139, while another stroke back are first-round leader Raphael Jacquelin, who followed up a 67 with a 73, and Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke (71).

The only American in the limited, 36-player field, Peter Uihlein, has posted rounds of 70 and 78 and is in 33rd place at 148.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014001/leaderboard/index.html.