Home favourite Shaun Norris continued his fine start to the 2025 season as he fired a spotless 63 on Friday to take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Joburg Open.
Norris sits fifth on the Race to Dubai rankings after winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December and recording two other top-ten finishes in his four starts so far this campaign.
And he produced some of his very best golf again in the second round as the morning starter carded seven birdies and no bogeys at Houghton Golf Club to set the early clubhouse target at 11 under par.
Adrien Saddier joined Norris on that number in the afternoon but closed his round with a bogey at the 18th to drop back to ten under.
Frenchman Saddier sits alone in second after signing for a second successive 65 which featured a sensational approach shot at the 13th that set up a tap-in birdie.
Scot Connor Syme and Indian former champion Shubhankar Sharma also shot second-round 65s to share third place on nine under.
Norris appeared to be in discomfort as he opened with a 66 on Thursday and revealed after his second round that he has an ear infection which is preventing him from hearing on his left side.
That did not seem to be affecting his golf game, though, as - starting from the tenth tee on Friday - the 42-year-old made a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th before picking up another shot at the 15th.
After starting his back nine with a fifth birdie of the day at the first hole, Norris slotted in his 15-foot birdie try from the edge of the sixth green to get to double digits under par.
And he then sent his tee-shot at the par-three seventh to around ten feet before draining the putt to reach 11 under.
Norris said: "I picked up an ear infection on Tuesday afternoon and saw the doctor on Wednesday.
"Tried to flush it out but it's not worked, put me on antibiotics and things like that but it's frustrating.
"I can't hear anything out of my left side and it's bugging me. But you know what, somehow it's not bothering me on the golf course.
"It's not hindered my balance at all so hopefully it stays like that for the next couple of days.
"I'm going to stick to my same game plan and just make birdies."
