Hennie du Plessis made a closing eagle on Friday to claim the halfway lead on his own at the BMW International Open and boost his bid for a maiden DP World Tour title.
The South African held a share of the first-round lead after a flawless eight-under-par 64 but patience was all important in the early stages of his second round.
It wasn’t until the 11th that he made his first birdie of the day, before a strong finish saw him card a 69 to reach 11-under and hold a one-shot lead at Golfclub München Eichenried.
Countryman Michael Hollick, Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz and England’s Jack Senior are his closest challengers in Germany, where the final event of the DP World Tour’s European Swing is taking place.
On track for his career-best season on the DP World Tour, having finished in the top five across three consecutive starts on his home continent from late February to early March, Du Plessis is in the hunt to become the 10th first-time winner this campaign.
“I think I’m comfortable with my game,” said Du Plessis. “I don’t necessarily say I’m comfortable around this golf course. I think it’s very demanding.
“You need to drive it well. Obviously putt well too. It’s hard to say that I’m feeling comfortable. I think I’m just comfortable with my game at the moment.
“It’s fun. I haven’t been in contention since the Joburg Open and SA Open, so it’s been a good nine to ten weeks since that.
“I’m very excited to be in the mix. It’s a pleasure to be in the mix on the DP World Tour, so I’m very happy and grateful.”
On a day when conditions appeared ideal for low scoring, Du Plessis followed seven straight pars with a bogey at the par-three eighth – his first dropped shot of the week.
He hit the turn at seven-under, which was then three shots adrift of clubhouse leaders Hollick and Ortiz, but began to find his rhythm with birdies at the par-five 11th – the easiest hole so far this week – and par-four 13th.
A setback came with a bogey at the 15th as he failed to get up and down from the right of the green, but he quickly retrieved that shot with a birdie at the 16th.
The 29-year-old, who made his major championship debut at the US Open last month, saved his best for last as he struck a fantastic approach from 226 yards to 16 feet before converting the eagle putt to enjoy the perfect finish ahead of the weekend’s play.
“My caddie gave me the perfect yardage and we sort of agreed on a line, middle green, but I mean I told him you can’t give me a perfect number and not expect me to have a little go at it,” he said of his sparkling finish.
“So, very pleased with the way I’ve been playing and what a great way to finish that tough day as well.
“Patience, that’s the name of the game, actually. It was tough. I mean, I gave myself a lot of good looks.
“I had a couple of good up and downs early on. It’s tough to feel like you’re hitting the ball well and not really getting rewarded.
“You need to keep hitting a good shot, so that’s where patience come in.
“You have to believe that somewhere along the line you’re going to start making a few putts and hitting a few good shots. I think I did that very well.”
DP World Tour rookie Hollick struggled in the early stages of his second round, bogeying two of his opening three holes.
From the fifth to the 10th, he mixed two birdies with two bogeys to sit at four-under but six birdies across his final eight holes saw him come home in 31 to card a 68 to go along with his opening 66 and reach 10-under.
