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 13th after he started his round on the 10th, and on the first and eighth, saw him climb 10 places on the leaderboard into a share of 24th.
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 24th 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.