Trevor Immelman and Adam Scott led the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Thursday after both shot five-under 67 in the first round.
Fourth-ranked Ernie Els was just two shots behind in the 12-man field at the Gary Player Country Club.
"I'm not too far off playing great golf again," said Els, who is aiming for a record fourth title at Sun City and the US$1.2 million first prize. "I'll try to make more putts from tomorrow and I think I can get four rounds under 70 -- which might be enough to win."
Immelman hit birdies on the first four holes on a course softened by rains over the last week. The South African topped that with an eagle three on the ninth to turn in six-under 30. But he couldn't maintain the momentum and dropped shots on 11 and 12.
Scott birdied the third and the ninth on the way out, then picked up two more on 10 and 12 before recording an eagle three on the 14th. The Australian dropped one shot on the 15th after finding the rough on the left with his tee shot.
The English duo of Justin Rose and Luke Donald each had four-under 68, with Donald impressing more with his homeward nine of 32, including four birdies.
They were a shot clear of Els and Australia's Geoff Ogilvie.
■ New Zealand Open
Australian Steven Bowditch shot a carefree seven-under 65 yesterday to grab the outright lead after the second round of the New Zealand Open.
The 24-year-old, who shot a 69 in blustery conditions on Thursday, took full advantage of more benign weather in the second round to post 134 at the halfway mark at The Hills course near New Zealand's tourist capital Queenstown.
Joint first-round leader and fellow Australian Paul Sheehan finished one shot back after racking up five birdies on the back nine for a 67.
Michael Long was the best performing local player, taking third spot after a birdie on the last saw him finish the round on 67.
A group of four were two shots further back on 138. Englishman Richard Finch matched Bowditch with a faultless 65 to leap from a share of 52nd overnight, tying with Australian Ewan Porter (66), countryman Gary Simpson (69) and Scotland's Peter Whiteford (68).
Another three players shared eighth place on 139, among them Australian Steven Jeffress, who finished with a 68 after making a hole-in-one on the 15th.
■ Cambodian Open
Bryan Saltus of the US put his new putter to good use yesterday as he shot a five-under 67 to claim a share of the lead after two rounds of the inaugural Cambodian Open.
Saltus joined first-round leader Adam Groom, with the Australian shooting a 68 yesterday, in the lead of the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.
Groom and Saltus were three strokes in front of their nearest pursuers -- Anthony Kang of the US, England's Ben St. John and Scotland's Simon Dunn in third.
Thailand's Chapchai Nirat shot a 71 yesterday to be equal 10th, six strokes off the leaders, as he continues his pursuit of Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Liang Wen-chong.
"I've been playing back-to-back events and its taking a toll on my game this week," Chapchai said. "I am not driving it well and my putting is not very steady."
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