Crespi hits the front

Marco Crespi continued to shine in the first event of his rookie European Tour campaign at the South African Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni.

The 35 year old Italian, who finished third last week in Girona to come through Qualifying School for the first time in ten attempts, was four under for his second round with three holes remaining to be 11 under for the week at Glendower GC.

That was one ahead of Dane Morten Ørum Madsen in the first event of the 2014 Race to Dubai.

Former US Open Champion and two-time winner of this event Retief Goosen was level with overnight leader Matthew Nixon and Italy’s Andrea Pavan in third place.

Pre-tournament favourite Charl Schwartzel was among the afternoon starters, and as well as looking to catch the leaders the former Masters Tournament champion was also going to be in pursuit of younger brother Attie, who had advanced to seven under to be two ahead of his older sibling.