Martin claims clubhouse lead

Spain’s Pablo Martin remains on course for back-to-back victories after claiming the clubhouse lead in the South African Open.

Martin, the only player to win European Tour titles as an amateur and a professional after his victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship last Sunday, added a 68 to his opening 65 at Pearl Valley today.

That gave the 23-year-old an 11-under-par halfway total of 133 and a two-shot lead over Denmark’s Anders Hansen, who carded a 69.

Starting on the back nine, Martin birdied the 10th, 12th and 16th before running up a double-bogey six on the 17th.

However, he bounced straight back with a birdie on the 18th to reach the turn in 34 and, after another bogey on the first, rolled in a hat-trick of birdies from the third.

Overnight leader Martin Erlandsson was four shots off the pace on seven-under after beginning his second round with a bogey on the first.