Clarke two off the lead in Johannesburg

Ireland's Darren Clarke is just two off the lead as he heads into the third round of the Joburg Open tomorrow.

A second round 67 at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington East took England's David Lynn into 12-under-par at halfway and one ahead of title favourite Charl Schwartzel.

The former England amateur international has not had to return to the European Tour qualifying school since 1999 and has earned more than £3.5m (€3.95m).

But Lynn has won only once in more than 300 starts and that was seven years ago.

Schwartzel has to go back only to last Sunday for his last success and did not a drop a stroke today in a 68 interrupted by the same thunderstorm which halted the fourth Test at the nearby Wanderers ground.

Schwartzel matched Lynn's closing birdie when play resumed, but playing partner Clarke missed from under five feet and so remained 10-under.

That left the 40-year-old Ryder Cup star in a share of third place with England's Danny Willett and Schwartzel's compatriots Hendrik Buhrmann and Jbe Kruger.

Barry Lane had a chance of being alongside them with two to play on the adjoining West course - the shorter and far easier of the two lay-outs used for the opening 36 holes - but then triple-bogeyed the 381-yard 17th.

Playing his 649th Tour event and at 49 attempting to become the circuit's oldest-ever winner, Lane took two in a greenside bunker and then three-putted to fall seven adrift of Lynn.

Surprise first round leader Neil Schietekat, outside the world's top 1,000, added only a 72 to his scintillating opening 62.

It was a poor day too for England's Simon Khan and Scot Alastair Forsyth.

Qualifying school winner Khan, the former Wales Open champion, went from eight-under to five-under with a 74, while Forsyth's 76 was 12 worse than his first effort and meant he missed the cut.

Defending champion Anders Hansen was on the same mark after finishing with a double bogey six on the West, and others to crash out included former Open champion Paul Lawrie, last season's Rookie of the Year Chris Wood and ex-Ryder Cup man David Howell.