GOLF/Sun City Challenge: Ernie Els eagled the par four 17th and moved into the outright lead with a scintillating 65 on the second day of the Sun City Challenge.
The South African's magnificent approach shot on the penultimate hole buried itself inside the cup without bouncing. The eagle, the first in the tournament, was preceded by a sensational shot which gave Els a birdie on the 16th.
Only a bogey on the 13th ruined what would otherwise have been a flawless round for the hometown favourite who is nine under - one stroke better than Chris DiMarco, the joint overnight leader with Retief Goosen.
Els singled out his caddie Ricci Roberts for the good luck he had with his approach on the 17th.
"It's a first for me, I've never played those two holes in four shots before," he said. "The approach on 17 with my nine-iron was probably the shot of the year for me. I brought it in from 153 metres and it just went in.
Els started the day two shots behind Goosen and DiMarco. Goosen found the going tough and had to settle for a hard-worked 72, leaving him on four under for the event alongside Jim Furyk.
Next best is Darren Clarke, who is on five under - four shots adrift of the South African after shooting 67.
Clarke shrugged off the up-and-down round he had yesterday: "Anytime you shoot 67 it is going to be a good round," Clarke said.
"The course is very tough this week. It's difficult to determine the speed on the greens and it makes it that little bit tougher. So a 67 is always good, I'm very pleased with it."
Padraig Harrington had a solid but unspectacular 70 and is two under.
Els, a two-time winner at Sun City and a runner-up last year to Sergio Garcia, added: "I tried to put the ball in the air today. Yesterday I was coming in too flat and the greens and fairways are too firm. I said to Ricci we must put it in the air, I think it travelled a little further that way."
Garcia had a nightmare front nine and eventually posted a 73. He is eight shots off the pace.
Colin Montgomerie tried to put a frustrating opening day behind him when he was given a shot penalty on the opening hole.
Montgomerie drove straight down the fairway on yesterday's first and then grabbed the microphone and announced to the crowd: "If I hit an eight from this it's straight back into the clubhouse for me."
He was undone yesterday on the ninth when he sent his ball into the water, having to settle for a double bogey seven on the hole. Montgomerie eventually came home strongly with birdies on the 13th, 15th and 16th to finish with a 69.
SECOND-ROUND SCORES: 135 - E Els (Ksa) 70 65; 136 - C Di Marco (US) 68 68; 139 - D Clarke (Irl) 72 67; 140 - J Furyk (US) 69 71; R Goosen (Ksa) 68 72; 141 - N Price (Zim) 71 70, R Allenby (Aus) 70 71; 142 - B Estes (US) 73 69; P Harrington (Irl) 72 70, M Campbell (NZ) 71 71; 143 - C Montgomerie (Brit) 74 69, S Garcia (Spa) 70 73.
