• South Africa Open, Round Two

Goosen in contention as Scotland's O'Hara leads

Retief Goosen made five birdies on day two © Getty Images

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Leaderboard

Retief Goosen is hot on the heels of leader Steven O'Hara after the home favourite struck a second-round 68 to sit one shot behind O'Hara on 10-under-par.

The 42-year-old two-time US Open winner began with back-to-back birdies to make early headway, but he was momentarily rattled when making bogey at the fifth. He picked up a shot at the eighth to hit the turn in 34, and he was faultless thereafter to end the day as the top South African.

Scotland's O'Hara remains the man to beat, another sub-70 round keeping him at the top of the standings. Beginning his round on the back nine, O'Hara made a fast start by draining three birdies to threaten an even lower score than his opening 65. A round to remember never materialised, but a 68 leaves him on course to win the title.

Defending champion Ernie Els, hunting a sixth victory at the championship, hit a second consecutive 69. Els started the day joint 15th but immediately set his sights on climbing the leaderboard with a birdie at the 11th - his second hole of the day. A run of seven pars slowed his charge but he is in with a shout on six-under.

Lyle Rowe had claimed the early clubhouse lead after firing a six-under 66. The 24-year-old from Port Elizabeth was making steady progress when he eagled the long eighth to inject some fresh impetus into his round. He started the back nine with back-to-back birdies to carry on the momentum, but a bogey at the 13th halted his run.

Rowe, who finished in joint last place in the tournament last year, need not have worried, however, as he picked up shots on his next two holes to show his confidence had not been dented, before another bogey threatened to mar his efforts. His resilience again showed itself as a superb approach to three feet set up a birdie at the last, leaving him two shots adrift of O'Hara on nine-under.

England's Oliver Wilson has a lot of ground to make up if he is to mount a challenge, an error-strewn 71 leaving him on four-under.

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