Lawrie leads in the clubhouse

Irishman Peter Lawrie shrugged off an Achilles strain to post a stunning round of 64 and take a one-shot lead midway through the second round of the dunhill Championship at the Houghton Country Club.

Lawrie, who woke up with a sore foot as rain stopped falling around Johannesburg for the first time in days, carded eight birdies in an error-free round which took him to 12 under par for the tournament after his opening 68.

“I woke up with the strain and was in quite a bit of pain, which forced me to go and see the physiotherapist this morning,” Lawrie admitted.

“I was all right when I got onto the course but was feeling my leg throughout and not concentrating that much on my golf.”

The injury did not affect his performance, however, with the European Tour rookie of the year playing superbly and even managing to scramble a birdie on the par-five 18th hole after driving into the trees.

Lawrie edged one shot ahead of Dane Soren Hansen, whose 67 included only one bogey, on the par-three 15th.

South African Titch Moore was in third place after a superb 66 took him to 10 under par, two shots back from Lawrie.

Moore, who missed out on the European Tour by just €600 after finishing 17th on the Challenge Tour last year, is hoping for a victory here to earn a two-year exemption and ease his worries about qualifying.

Behind the top three are Dane Mads Vibe-Hastrup and Frenchman Gregory Havret, who shot 68 and 69 respectively to be nine-under.

The overnight trio of leaders – Scotland’s Alan McLean, Dane Anders Hansen and Germany’s Marcus Siem – were all beginning their second rounds early in the afternoon.

Anders Hansen managed to move up a shot to eight-under after a birdie on the fifth hole, and will be looking to close in on the leaders through the afternoon.

England’s Lee Westwood showed how his form is returning by starting with two early birdies to be six-under for the tournament after six holes.

But with the conditions getting easier, the cut may be a cruel one for 2002 champion Justin Rose, who struggled with a 69 to end at even-par for the two rounds.

Currently the cut prediction is two under, meaning defending champion Mark Foster – at three under – could yet be in danger.

There were two holes-in-one on Friday – a day after Germany’s Thomas Dier made one at the 12th hole.

Austrian Steven Waltman aced the sixth hole with a seven iron and South African Chris Davidson scored the second ace on the 12th for the tournament - using a nine iron.

All three players were presented with a watch by the sponsors.