Branden Grace rattled off five birdies in a row to soar up the leaderboard on Friday at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Grace, who finished second to Chris Paisley last week at the BMW SA Open at Glendower, started round two with a birdie on the 10th and was all pars until he stepped onto the 18th tee box. He made the turn in two under before settling for a par on the first, the last hole before the fireworks began.
The eight-time European Tour winner rattled off five birdies in a row before a rare par at the 7th allowed the scorers to catch their breath. The South African was not done yet as he made four on the par 5 8th and closed with a par to come home in 30 and rise 61 places from his first round position of T69.
Joining Grace at -8 is countryman Dylan Frittelli. Fresh off of his rookie season, which included wins in Austria and Mauritius, the Texas University alumnus had just one bogey – on 18 – on his card as he followed up Thursday’s 69 with a 67.
Grace and Frittelli now just four behind 2016 runner-up Thomas Pieters, who is two clear after a bogey-free 65 moved him clear of the overnight leaders.
Brandon Stone’s form is on the up as he worked his way up the leaderboard with a 70 on Friday. The young South African was left to rue two back nine bogeys – on 13 and 17 – which slowed his march after he moved to -4 for the day through 10 holes.
One of the more notable rounds of the early starters was from Dean Burmester. Starting on the back nine, he began relatively quietly with two pars before disaster struck on the par 3 12th hole. The Tshwane Open winner dropped five shots with an eight as he looked to be heading for the airport before mounting an incredible comeback. Birdies at the 15th and 18th helped steady the ship, but he was playing catchup once more after a five on the first.
Burmester got that shot back on the next and made his fourth birdie of the day on 3rd as he continued to limit the damage. Remarkably, the 7-time Sunshine Tour winner made two more birdies before closing with a par and rollercoaster round of 72, which should be enough for him to peg it up this weekend and earn some valuable Euros.
Richard Sterne, SA’s highest-placed player after round one, was unable to build on his initial success at the National Course as he carded a 72, thanks to a birdie on the last.
Haydn Porteous faces an anxious wait to see if he will be playing tomorrow after following up his first round 72 with a 70 on Friday.
George Coetzee and Thomas Aiken are unlikely to feature, sitting at -1 through 36 holes after rounds of 73 and 71 respectively.
Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
