• Volvo Golf Champions, Round Two

Jamieson emerges to challenge impressive Oosthuizen

Scott Jamieson fired himself into contention on Friday © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Red-hot Jamieson on course for Durban double
  
• News: Els & Oosthuizen start smoothly in Durban
  
• Profile: Scott Jamieson

Volvo Golf Champions leaderboard

A month after winning his maiden European Tour title in the country, Scott Jamieson was in sparkling form to move within one shot of half-way leader Louis Oosthuizen at the Volvo Golf Champions in South Africa.

Jamieson, the winner at the weather-shortened Nelson Mandela Championship in December, came through wet and windy conditions similar to those at the rain-affected event to post a round of 64 on Friday, good enough to leapfrog him to 11-under par for the tournament.

That left him in a share of second place at the end of the day's play, after home favourite - and lowest ranked player in the field - Louis Oosthuizen matched his eight-under par round to hit 12-under overall.

Thongchai Jaidee, the leader after the first round, is also 11-under after following up with a 68.

After a handful of errors on Thursday, Oosthuizen produced a mistake-free round of golf on Friday to fire the joint lowest round of the day and give himself a great chance of victory.

He was matched by Jamieson, however, whose only dropped shot came at the 11th as he put himself in position for another win in the Rainbow Nation.

"If it continues to rain maybe that's a good thing for me," Jamieson noted afterwards.

Six shots separate the top three from the rest of the field, with Paul Lawrie and Thomas Bjorn among a group of players at five-under who will be hoping to close the gap on Saturday.

Reigning Open champion Ernie Els is still four-under after a level par round of 72, with Padraig Harrington a shot further back.

The British duo of Paul Casey and Darren Clarke, meanwhile, both sit one-under and will need low scores on Saturday if they are to contend for the top ten, after rounds of 69 and 68 respectively.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.