Michael Hoey maintained his strong challenge at the Joburg Open in South Africa on Friday.
After his opening seven-under 64, Hoey did not drop a shot in his 68 on Friday which left him only a shot behind leader Scotland's David Drysdale.
Drysdale added a 66 to his opening 65 and was a shot ahead of South Africa's Oliver Bekker (65) and Ulsterman Hoey.
Michael McGeady missed the cut on three over after a 74 while Jonathan Caldwell also exited on five over after a 75.
Hoey parred his opening 11 holes on Friday before a birdie three at the 12th started a run of three gains in four holes.
The Belfast golfer found trouble off the tee at the last but a superb up and down from 80 yards meant that he completed his card without any dropped shots.
South African Andrew McLardy and England's Danny Willett are in a share of fourth place on nine under.
Thunder and lightning forced the tournament organisers to halt play at just before two o'clock local time although the action later resumed.
Caldwell needed a sub-70 round after his opening one-over-par 72 to have any chance of making the cut.
The Clandeboye player did birdie the second but a double-bogey on the fourth was then followed by further dropped shots on the sixth and seventh to effectively end his chances of playing at the weekend.
He did birdie the ninth to go out in 38 but started his back nine with successive bogeys.
Derryman McGeady had shot an opening level-par 71 but he didn't manage a birdie on Friday in a round which included three bogeys.
Noel Fox also missed the cut as he hit a second successive 72 for two over.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~01~RS~)