Hennie Otto fired a second round 69 to sit just two shots off the pace heading into the weekend at the BMW International Open, writes WADE PRETORIUS.

Otto followed up his bogey-free 68 with a 69 on Friday, helped by his eagle on the par 5 18th to lurk behind leaders Joakim Lagergren (Sweden) and Joel Stalter (France). Between the duo and Otto is a group of five, including Open winner Henrik Stenson and Masters champion Sergio Garcia.

Behind Otto, who entered the week on the back of two consecutive missed cuts, in a share of 11th, is Trevor Fisher Jnr – FULL REPORT HERE. Sitting a shot further back at -5 after two rounds is George Coetzee, who shot 70 on Friday, despite bogeys on the second and third holes. Another bogey at 11 was cancelled by birdies at 5, 6, 13, 15 and 18 as he looks to build on the fourth-place finish he secured at the Nordea Masters at the beginning of the month.

Dean Burmester joined early finishers Ernie Els and Jaco Van Zyl – FULL REPORT HERE – on two-under par and within seven of the lead. Burmester made a bogey on 3, but rebounded with four birdies in five holes to make the turn in 33. A birdie on 11 was not a sign of things to come as he made a triple on 14 before getting one back on the next hole.

Brandon Stone and Richard Sterne joined Jbe Kruger, Dylan Frittelli and Zander Lombard on -1, but were fortunate to see the cut line drift from -2 to -1 as the day progressed. Stone finished with a 33 on the back nine to correct his 38 front 9, while Sterne dropped shots at 14 and 15 to make his finish far more anxious than it needed to be.

Three South Africans won’t be around on the weekend with Darren Fichardt missing the mark as he finished level for 36 holes, despite a bogey-free 69 on Friday. Haydn Porteous and Justin Walters join Fichardt on the early flight home.

Photo: Luke Walker/Gallo Images