Sullivan Up by One at South African Open


Andy Sullivan followed up his opening 6-under 66 with a 70 to take a one-stroke lead at the South African Open. The European Tour event got underway Thursday at Glendower Golf Club near Johannesburg.

At the halfway mark the 28-year-old Englishman stands at 8-under 136, a stroke ahead of 2011 Masters' champion Charl Schwartzel, who's shot rounds of 68 and 69.

Sullivan began Friday tied for the lead with South African Jbe Kruger. But Kruger carded an 80 at a course with narrow fairways and deep rough to fall way down the leaderboard.

After recording two bogeys in his first seven holes, Sullivan rebounded with four birdies the rest of the way to be in good shape entering the weekend. "I thought it was going to be a really good knock on the front nine, but a few little errant drives meant the rough got its payback on me today," he told the European Tour's website.

"But anything in red figures is good so I am really happy with the position I am in. I thought I did well on eight to make birdie after a couple of smelly holes in the middle."

As for his approach this weekend, Sullivan - looking for his first career victory following a fine amateur career - added, "When I get in these positions I find myself enjoying it more. It's where you want to be, you practice to be in these situations and I am playing with the guys I always wanted to as a kid. It's fantastic.

"It's new territory to be up there after two rounds but hopefully I can take what I usually do in rounds and three and four and blow the field away."

Five-time South African Open winner Ernie Els began the day trailing Sullivan and Kruger by only a stroke. But Els, playing on a course in his hometown of Ekurhuleni, went 10 strokes higher en route to a 77 Friday.

Though he carded four birdies, the "Big Easy" - a four-time major champion and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame - also had three bogeys and two straight triple-bogeys on the ninth and 10th holes, both par-4s.

Trailing Sullivan by two are Denmark's Lasse Jensen (71) and South Africa's Colin Nel (70).

Defending champion Morten Orum Madsen followed up his opening 73 with a 1-under 71 to qualify for the weekend. American John Hahn (71) made the cut of 2-over 146 right on the number.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015000/leaderboard/index.html.