Els & Westwood lead chasing pack

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD: (GB & Ire unless stated)
-12 M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) -10 E Els (SA), D McGrane (Ire), C Schwartzel (SA), L Westwood (GB) -9 T Aiken (SA), D Horsey (GB), G Maybin (NI)

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Three-time major winner Els is currently ninth in the world rankings

Four-time champion Ernie Els and Lee Westwood are well-placed after round two of the South African Open.

Ernie Els hit his second straight round of 67 to go into the weekend 10-under par, two behind Michael Lorenzo-Vera.

The Frenchman, who started at the 10th, reeled off five birdies in six holes from the first on his way to a 65.

Els shares second place at Paarl with Britain's Westwood (68), fellow South African Charl Schwartzel (65) and Ireland's Damien McGrane (64).

Els, who won the event in 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2007, said: "I'm really up for it. I struggled just a little with my rhythm at the start of the round but I got into it.

"I'm fresh after a three-week break. I'm in with a lot of guys [tied for second] but I'll take that. There are still two rounds left and I feel good about the weekend.

606: DEBATE I think Westwood deserves massive amounts of credit for how he has turned his game around Digbert

Westwood had set the early pace with five birdies against a lone dropped stroke at the par-four 17th.

"I just played really solid again," said the former European number one. "When I missed the green, my short game was really good.

"I've not won this year and it would be nice to end with a victory."

Lorenzo-Vera, chasing his first European Tour win, was also upbeat about his chances - as long as the wind stays away from the Pearl Valley course.

"Last year I did well here but I went on holiday over the weekend when the wind came up," joked the 23-year-old.