DA SILVA HAS CLEAR LEAD AT HALFWAY IN AFRICA OPEN

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva takes a healthy three-stroke advantage into the weekend of the Africa Open after a brilliant second-day display at East London Golf Club, South Africa.
He is in the pole position of  14-under-par 130 after rounds of 62 and 68 spread over two days.
South African Jaco Van Zyl, the first-day leader, is in second place on 133 after scores of 66-67.
England's John Parry is holding down third palce on 134 (68-66)/  
The 41-year-old D Silva, a regular on the co-sanctioning Sunshine Tour, had birdied five of his first six holes on Thursday, but after a lengthy delay caused by strong winds was only able to par the next two before play was halted for the day.
One behind clubhouse leader Jaco Van Zyl overnight, Da Silva birdied the ninth on his return, then chipped in for eagle at the long 15th and finished with back-to-back birdies - the latter also coming from off the green - for a sensational ten under par 62 and four-shot lead.
The round was the best of his professional career, but Da Silva proved it was no fluke as he followed it with a second round 68 after a quick turnaround.
He birdied the short tenth - his second - then bogeyed the 11th, but picked up further shots at the 13th and 15th - the latter after chipping to three feet.
A 15 foot birdie putt at the long first and another gain at the seventh for a 68 gave him a 14 under par halfway total and commanding six shot clubhouse lead which came down to three shots when Van Zyl completed a second-round 67 for 133.
Afterwards Da Silva admitted that he may have been on the right side of the draw as Thursday’s morning starters had to face the strongest gusts, which eventually started to move balls on the greens.
“I got a good break yesterday,” he said. “It was extremely hard out there for the morning field, and then I got the break and I just started making some putts.
“I somehow just felt the pace, and my caddie and I are reading the greens very well.
“My putting has been letting me down lately, and it just came alive. I must have had 23, 24 putts, which must make it my best round in putting. I was averaging 32 putts a round in Asia last year.”
Van Zyl was among the last players out in the second round, and having been usurped as leader lost further ground with a bogey at the first.
SCOTSWATCH
Only two of thr Scottish entries - David Drysdale and Chris Doak - survived the halfway cut at 144 and better.
Drysdale and Doak are both on 141, both scoring 74-67 to share 23rd place.
Drysdale birdied six of his first 10 holes in his second round and parred the last eighth straight.
Doak had an eagle 3 at the long 15th and five birdies.
Craig Lee missed the cut by two with rounds of 76-70.
Callum Macaulay missed out on 147 (75-72) and Scott Hendry was even further away from making the cut. He shot 79-72 for 151.
HALFWAY LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
Players from South Africa unless stated
130 Adilson Da Silva (Brazil) 62 68
133 Jaco Van Zyl 66 67
134 John Parry (England) 68 66
136 Darren Fichardt 69 67, Oliver Bekker 69 67
137 Ricardo Santos (Portugal) 71 66, Gregory Bourdy (France) 70 67.

SELECTED SCORES
141 David Drysdale (Scotland) 74 67, Chris Doak (Scotland) 74 67 (T23).   

MISSED THE CUT (145 and better qualified) 
146 Craig Lee 76 70 (T88)
147 Callum Macaulay 75 72 (T99)
151 Scott Henry 79 74 (T135)