Defending champion Charl Schwartzel, energized by swing tips from fellow South African golfer Hendrik Buhrmann, sprinted into a share of the Joburg Open second-round lead with a 10-under-par 61 on Friday.
Schwartzel, who will divide his time between the European and US PGA tours this year, said Buhrmann’s advice helped him tie for the lead on 13-under 129 with Briton Jamie Elson (64) and South African Garth Mulroy (64).
“My swing hasn’t been good for quite a while and Hendrik came out and helped me after the pro-am [on Wednesday],” the world No. 32 told reporters at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
“Hendrik gave me some really good advice and he had footage of me from a year ago when I was playing really well. There were quite a few things out of place,” Schwartzel said.
Mulroy reeled off seven birdies and an eagle in his round, while Englishman Elson fired five -successive birdies from the fifth hole.
Joint overnight leader Tyrone Mordt (68) and fellow South Africans Thomas Aiken (66) and James Kingston (62) were one stroke off the pace on 130.
The other joint overnight leader, South African Martin Maritz, was on 131 after a 69.
Play was suspended due to darkness with more than 20 competitors still out on the course after bad weather caused a near three-hour suspension earlier in the day.
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