Italy's Laporta takes control in SA Open

A NEW champion will be crowned at the 115th South African Open after defending winner Dylan Naidoo missed the cut in Stellenbosch yesterday, throwing the tournament wide open heading into the weekend.

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

Italy’s Francesco Laporta surged into the sole lead at 10-under-par after a near-flawless 63 in which the quiet morning breeze in the Winelands barely troubled him. Laporta rolled in seven birdies in a composed display, despite having injured countryman Andrea Pavan in his thoughts after he fell down a lift shaft ahead of the tournament. His performance set the pace as conditions proved far kinder to the early starters.

England's Nathan Kimsey climbed to second on nine-under after bouncing back from first-round errors with a bogey-free five-under-par effort on Friday.

South Africa’s Dean Burmester, who shared the overnight lead, slipped slightly but stayed firmly in contention. His second-round 67 left him at eight-under, just two shots off the lead in third place.

Another South African, Hennie du Plessis, charged up the leaderboard with a seven-under 63 to move into a share of fourth alongside England’s Joe Dean and fellow local Herman Loubser.