Jamie Donaldson fires 63 to grab share of South African Open lead

SUN CITY, South Africa – Jamie Donaldson took a share of the lead after two rounds at the South African Open on Friday with a 9-under 63, one shot off the course record.

The Welshman, a former European Ryder Cup team member, made 10 birdies at Gary Player Country Club and only a bogey on the par-4 No. 4 prevented him from equaling Lee Westwood’s course record from 2011. He finished with a pair of birdies.

Donaldson joined South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout (67) at the top of the leaderboard at 10 under overall.

Full-field scores from the South African Open

Bezuidenhout stayed on track for back-to-back wins after a victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, also in South Africa, last weekend. Justin Rose in 2017 was the last player to win European Tour tournaments in consecutive weeks.

Bezuidenhout could have led but missed a close-range birdie putt on No. 18.

The co-leaders have a two-shot advantage over two more South African players tied for second, including Dylan Frittelli (68).

Frittelli is seeking his first win on the tour since 2017, and after a breakthrough of sorts at a major tournament this year when he finished tied for fifth at the Masters. Frittelli’s cause was aided on Friday by a chip in for birdie from near the bunker on the par-3 No. 3.

He is at 8 under along with Dean Burmester (69).