Hennie du Plessis fared best of the 24 South Africans in the field on Friday, carding a two-under-par 70 at Carnoustie in the second round of the DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St Andrews, Scotland.

On the toughest of the three courses – a round is played on each of Carnoustie, the Old Course and Kingsbarns ahead of the 54-hole cut – Du Plessis made five birdies and three bogeys to move into a share of 16^th place on seven-under-par through 36 holes.

He was six shots off the lead which was held by Ryder Cup star Matthew Fitzpatrick, who had a nearly irresistible eight-under-par on Kingsbarns to lead by one from Nacho Elvira of Spain and Grant Forrest of Scotland who were one stroke back on 12-under-par.

Next best of the South Africans were Oliver Bekker and Zander Lombard in a share of 30^th on five-under. Both played Carnoustie, with Bekker signing for a fine four-under-par 68 and Lombard battling to a two-over 74.

Louis Oosthuizen and Jayden Schaper were in a share of 40^th on four-under-par after rounds of one-over 73 on Kingsbarns and level-par 72 on Carnoustie respectively. Louis de Jager had a two-under 72 at Kingsbarns to move into a share of 58^th on three-under, and he was joined at that total by Thriston Lawrence, who had a superb five-under-par 67 at the Old Course.

Deon Germishuys had a bogey-free 66 at Kingsbarns to move to two-under and a share of 72^nd with Wilco Nienaber, who followed his opening bogey-free 65 on the Old Course with an unfortunate five-over 77 at Carnoustie. Nienaber’s rather typical round included an eagle, two birdies, five bogeys and two double-bogeys.

Bryce Easton was on one-under in a share of 86^th after a level-par 72 at Carnoustie together with Luca Filippi and Ryan van Velzen who went one-over at the Old Course.

Click here to see the full second-round scores.