England’s Sandeep Grewal and South African Roger Wessels are the surprise leaders at the halfway stage of the Dunhill Championship in Johannesburg today after Ireland’s Paul McGinley relinquished his joint overnight lead to slip down the leaderboard.
Unknown Grewal equalled the low round of the day with a fine eight-under par 64 to join Wessels (66), one of the seasoned campaigners on the South African Sunshine Tour, on 10-under 134.
They lead by one from the US Open champion, Retief Goosen, who during today’s 67 birdied the last three holes for the second consecutive day. The European number one and home favourite is joined by England’s Anthony Wall, who also shot 67, in a tie for third.
Perhaps McGinley was finally feeling the effects of a six-week lay-off as his roller-coaster round could only amount to a 71 despite recording two eagles along the way. Today’s efforts were the opposite of yesterday’s bogey-free 66 and the Dubliner is now three adrift with nine other players on seven-under 137.
McGinley opened with a bogey, eagled the par five fifth, birdied the seventh, then gave the shots back with bogeys at eight and nine to reach the turn in level par. Another bogey at the 11th was redeemed with a second eagle at the 16th as the 35-year-old sneaked under par once again at the end of his round.
Ernie Els failed to make any progress with a level par 72. The world number five remains on four-under and is still a threat just six shots off the pace.
David Higgins, the second of three Irishmen competing at the Houghton Golf Club safely made the cut by two shots on three-under 141. The Waterville professional had five birdies and just two dropped shots during today’s 69, but the day was not so good for Michael Hoey.
The British Amateur champion slumped to a three-over 75 despite scoring a hole-in-one at the 12th along the way. The Belfast amateur followed his nine-iron 161 yard ace with a bogey and double-bogey to finish with a disappointing seven-over 151 total.
The day was no better for former professional footballer Roy Wegerle either. The former Chelsea, Luton and QPR striker finished last on his professional debut after a miserable second round 80 followed yesterday’s creditable 76.