South Africa’s Zander Lombard fired a second round 69 to move 18 places up the leaderboard at the halfway mark in the Lyoness Open at Diamond Country Club on Friday.

Lombard began the day at -2 after a double at 7 and bogey at 8 halted his swift progress on Thursday. Now he finds himself back in the thick of things after a bogey-free Friday in Austria.

The Rocco Forte Open playoff runner-up made birdie at the par 5 second, and opened with a birdie on the 10th before making his last birdie for the day at par 5 15th.

Fellow South African Haydn Porteous had a day to forget as he dropped 30 places to 64th, following a two over par 74. He now sits on the cut line and faces an anxious wait to learn of his weekend plans.

Porteous opened with a 71 yesterday, and despite three birdies on Friday, he tumbled down the field with five bogeys.

Keith Horne, Jake Roos and Jaco Ahlers will all miss the cut after finishing their 36 holes at +3, +4 and +6 respectively.