A second-successive four-under-par 68 saw George Coietzee right into contention on Friday after the second round of the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at the Yas Links Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Coetzee made five birdies and a bogey as he reached eight-under-par at the halfway stage of the tournament, putting him in a share of fourth. That was two strokes off the lead which was shared by Italians Francesco Molinari and Guido Migliozzi, both making early pushes for inclusion in the European Ryder Cup team which will play on home soil in Rome later this year.

Once again, the round could not be completed in time as darkness fell, but Coetzee’s position in fourth is not under threat by any of the only three players still out on the course. In fourth with him were Sweden’s Alexander Bjork, Frenchmen Alexander Levy and Victor Perez, and Scott Jamieson of Scotland.

Back on two-under for the tournament after his second-successive 71, Ockie Strydom will make the cut in his first tournament as a DP World Tour winner. But he is the only other South African through to the weekend. Race to Dubai leader Thriston Lawrence retired, while Hennie du Plessis, Louis de Jager, Oliver Bekker, Zander Lombard, Jacques Kruyswijk and Justin Harding all missed the cut which fell at two-under.