Coetzee holds lead halfway through Tshwane Open

South Africa’s Charl Coetzee will take a one-stroke lead into

the third round of the weather-delayed Tshwane Open in

Centurion.

Play in the second round was completed early Saturday due to a

thunderstorm late Friday which forced an abandonment at the Els

Club course at the Copperleaf Golf Estate.

Coetzee, who turns 32 on Monday and is still seeking his first

professional tournament victory after a prolific amateur career,

had moved to the clubhouse lead on 12-under par 132 before the

stoppage with a second-day score of 65.

Chile’s Mark Tullo (66) and South African Tawie Der Walt (65)

are in second place at 11-under par. Former US Amateur champion,

Peter Uihlein (66) headed into the third round at 10 under as he

also looks for a first pro career success.

The England trio of Richard Finch (66), Danny Willett (68) and

David Howell (69) were among a group of 10 players tied in fifth

place at 8 under and just four shots behind Coeztee in the dual

European and Sunshine Tour event.

Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain returned to the course in the

morning to birdie his last hole in a round of 66 to make the cut at

2 under. Joining last year’s victorious European Ryder Cup captain

at 2 under was former British Open winner Darren Clarke (73).