A second-successive three-under-par 67 on Friday left Erik van Rooyen six strokes off the lead after the second round of the DP World Tour and PGA Tour co-sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club outside Edinburgh in North Berwick.

It was a bogey-free effort from the South African on a second day of benign links golf weather, and his birdies on the 13^th after he started his round on the 10^th, and on the first and eighth, saw him climb 10 places on the leaderboard into a share of 24^th.

However, in the easy conditions, players ahead of him were going low. Swede Ludvig Aberg had his second six-under 64 in a row, and, at 12-under through 36 holes, had a one-stroke edge over Frenchman Antoine Rozner, who carded a bogey-free 64 of his own – including an eagle on the third – to move to 11-under.

Sungjae Im of Korea and Italy’s Matteo Manassero were in a share of third on 10-under, and there were six players – including Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa – on nine-under in a share of fifth. Eight players, including Scottish favourite Robert MacIntyre, were on eight-under, with five on seven-under. Van Rooyen shared 24^th with 12 other players.

Van Rooyen was the only South African to make the cut, with Thriston Lawrence and Dylan Frittelli just missing out at two-under through 36 holes. Louis de Jager was on one-under and Ockie Strydom on one-over.

Worrying, ahead of the Open Championship, Christiaan Bezuidenhout withdrew during the second round. He had a tough start, being five-over after completing two holes and posting a 69 in the first round. The withdrawal was prompted by an undisclosed injury.