Keith Horne set the target as South Africans dominated proceedings on day two of The BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni.
The event has produced 12 home winners in the 19 stagings since it joined The European Tour International Schedule in 1997 and Horne led a ten-strong group of South Africans in the top ten.
The 44 year old shot a flawless 69 to move to eight under and level with overnight leader Jaco Van Zyl who was in the early stages of his second round.
Jbe Kruger was then a shot behind the leading duo after signing for a 70 on a day when scoring was more difficult courtesy of a gusting wind at Glendower Golf Club.
Jaco van Zyl leads BMW SA Open after more putting woe for Ernie Els
South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl claimed the clubhouse lead in the BMW SA Open, the European Tour’s first event of 2016, as the tournament host Ernie Els suffered another attack of the dreaded yips at the Glendower club in Johannesburg.
Els had been three over par with three holes to play before reviving his chances of a sixth victory in the event with a birdie on the seventh (his 16th) and an eagle on the par-five eighth.
Brandon Stone fought back in the final round to win his first European Tour title at the SA Open in Johannesburg.
Stone went from five shots ahead to two behind after six bogeys in seven holes but recovered with four birdies to post a one-under-par 71 to win on 14 under.
The 22-year-old becomes the youngest winner of the event since 1997.