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Murless leads in Joburg

11/01/2008

Home favourite Mark Murless leads the Johannesburg Open after firing a second-round 68 to finish on nine-under-par.

The 31-year-old hit a brilliant eagle on the 18th hole of the Royal Johannesburg's East course to claim a one-stroke lead over Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal.

Larrazabal, who is making his European Tour Debut, also carded a round of 68 and narrowly missed a chance to grab a share of the lead. The 24-year-old failed to putt a birdie on the final hole.

South African trio Warren Abery, Charl Coetzee and Tyrone Ferreira are all on seven-under-par and in joint third place.

Irishman Darren Clarke bounced back from a poor first-round 73 to card a second-round 65 - which included seven birdies – and finish on four-under-par.

"The difference was in the putting," said Clarke, who hit four birdies on the back nine to make sure he made the cut.

"I got a putting lesson from Stuart Cage, a former tour player now working for our management group, before today's round and out on the course the putts started dropping."

English pair Iain Pyman and Paul Waring are both in contention after the end of the second round. They are both on six-under-par and will be hoping for a solid third round to make sure they stay towards the top of the leaderboard.