Oliver Bekker raced through the field with an eight-under-par 62 on Friday lifting him to a share of 13th after the second round of the DP World Tour’s Omega European Masters Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans Montana, Switzerland.
Bekker, who had opened with a lacklustre one-over in the first round, made an early birdie in the second round on the third hole. He followed that with three in a row from the sixth, before dropping a shot on the ninth. But he was bogey-free on the homeward nine, making five birdies as he moved to seven-under through 36 holes.
That put him five shots off the lead which was held by Matt Fitzpatrick, who had a five-under 65 to move to 12-under and a one-stroke lead over Alexander Bjork of Sweden. Fitzpatrick’s brother and Frenchman Romain Langasque shared third on 10-under.
In a share of 13th with Bekker were JC Ritchie, who had a bogey-free five-under-par 65 in the second round, and Hennie du Plessis, who went two-under on the second round. Justin Walters was a shot back on six-under after his second round of four-under 66 took him into a share of 26th, while Zander Lombard was in a share of 33rd on five-under after he signed for a one-under 69. Also on five-under were Wilco Nienaber, after he had a four-under 66, and Erik van Rooyen, who had a one-under 69.
Defending champion Thriston Lawrence was on four-under in a share of 50th after he had a five-under 65 in the second round after a up-and-down opening round of one-over.
Jayden Schaper, Tristen Strydom, Deon Germishuys, Thomas Aiken, Ockie Strydom, Bryce Easton and Daniel van Tonder all missed the cut.
