ZLorenzo-Vera takes lead in South Africa

Dec 19, 2008 - 6:02 PM By Thahir Asmal PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WESTERN CAPE, South Africa (Ticker) -- Michael Lorenzo-Vera holds a two-stroke lead halfway through the South African Open after Friday's second round score of 7-under-par 65.

The Frenchman, who played the back nine first at the Pearl Valley Golf Estates, was faultless through his round, especially impressing through the midway stage with six birdies in seven holes.

That gave him the two-shot lead over Lee Westwood, Ernie Els, Charl Schwartzel and Damien McGrane - the Irishman's 8-under 64 giving him the honor of joint best effort of the day.

The early clubhouse leader Thomas Aiken was the other man who managed a 64 to move 9-under overall, alongside Gareth Maybin and Dave Horsey, another player who had an excellent second round with a bogey-free 7-under 65.

Two-time champion Retief Goosen leads a bunch of players at 8-under, while another well-known South African, Rory Sabbatini, is back at 7-under with Chris Wood.

But it was a day to remember for the 23-year-old leader and he admitted his main aim coming into the competition was to test his right wrist, which he injured two months ago by falling over some stairs.

"It feels pretty good, pretty cool to be leading because I had two months of rest because of my wrist," said Lorenzo-Vera, who was playing in his first tournament since the injury. "So I was just coming here to find some new feelings.

"Today was just like yesterday, the putting was very good. The first nine, the putts were not very good, I think mainly because they were long putts. But the second nine I hit the irons much closer. But everything was good."

Looking forward to his chances for the weekend, the Biarritz-based player said that he was hoping to make his good position count.

"I hope this time I'm going to catch it," he said. "There were few occasions last year that I let it go, so I'm just going to try and make it a good weekend. I'll be aiming to hit a lot of greens in regulation like I did today."

Four-time winner Els was optimistic of his chances going into the weekend.

"It's only the second round, halfway through the tournament and still so much to happen," Els said. "I'm at 10 under and pretty pleased with that. I had a nice day and even if a guy is at 15 under I don't care.

"We've got two rounds left. If I'm two shots behind with two to play I still have a chance to win, so there's still plenty of golf left."

Henrik Stenson, the world No. 8 and highest ranked player at the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event, shot a 71 for a 3-under overall total, while England's Justin Rose just made the cut with his 2-over-par round leaving him 1-under for the tournament.

The only major name to miss the cut was defending champion James Kingston.