Ernie Els went low on Saturday with a seven-under-par 65 to get himself into contention after the second round of the PGA Tour Champions Principal Charity Classic at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa.
Els added to his opening one-under-par 71 with seven birdies and not a single dropped shot as he moved to eight-under for the tournament and a share of ninth ahead of the final round. He was four shots off the lead which was shared by Stephen Ames of Canada and Americans Tim Herron and Steve Stricker at 12-under. They led by two from Tim Petrovic, with four players in a share of fifth on none-under. Els shared ninth with six other players.
Els started his round on the 10th, and it was during his opening nine that he was almost irresistible. He parred his first hole, and then reeled off five birdies in succession from the second hole. He made another birdie on the 17th and turned in six-under 30. He wasn’t able to keep the hot streak going on the homeward nine, but he picked up another shot with a birdie on the eighth.
