Frenchman Guerrier leads the pack at windy Nedbank Challenge.. results/ tee times

 DP World Tour : Nedbank Challenge  Leaderboard Tee Times

Julien Guerrier holds a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Nedbank Golf Challenge after firing a remarkable 68 in extremely difficult conditions on day two.

The in-form Frenchman, who ended his long wait for a maiden DP World Tour title in Andalucía in October, carded eight birdies and four bogeys in a roller-coaster second round as strong winds caused havoc at Gary Player Country Club.

While a hole-out birdie from a bunker at the eighth will perhaps go down as Guerrier's best shot of the day, his par save from seven feet on the 18th green was probably his most important as, with his rivals leaking oil on the closing holes, it earned him the outright lead on -5

Defending champion and first-round leader Max Homa led for much of the day before back-to-back double bogeys on the 16th and 17th saw his two-shot advantage go up in smoke.

Guerrier's nearest challengers heading into the weekend were countryman Romain Langasque and home favourite Ockie Strydom, who sit one shot off the lead on -4

Homa was among the group a further stroke back after eventually signing for a +3 75.

Guerrier had this to say post round He said "First of all, it’s a privilege to score under par in tough conditions like that. I am very pleased I made a lot of birdies.

"It was difficult to stay patient, you know you are going to make some mistakes, everybody does. This is difficult because you can hit some really good shots, like me on 17 but then you go into the water, just the wrong gust at the wrong moment, but that is part of this golf course.

"The fairways are actually wet so if you play straight down in the middle it is a little bit longer, and if you go on the side, it is a bit shorter, and on the green it is a bit firmer. We saw that on 18, it is really long and the second shot is tough.

edit *** Only 15 players are under par after 36 holes, with the scoring average rising to 73.4

Canadians : Mac Hughes is now T16 71 73 and he like many others finished bogey, double bogey. Olympic team mate Corey Conners T44 72 76 including 2 double bogey's marring a pretty clean card with 14 pars.

Aaron Cockerill T51 76 74 +6  started on the 10th, and did manage to birdie his last hole, the the 9th.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)