JOHANNESBURG, November 18, 2011 (AFP) - Jbe Kruger overcame putting jitters to leap to a four-stroke lead Friday on the second day of the million-euro Alfred Dunhill Championship in his native South Africa.
Kruger overcame two early bogeys to shoot a five-under-par 67, reaching the halfway point with a total 13-under-par 131 at the Leopard Creek golf course.
"The putts just don't want to drop, believe it or not," the 25-year-old said.
"I didn't have fun in the early part of my round," he added. "But later I did have fun. I think you should have fun, otherwise why play? If you enjoy it you tend to play better."
After finishing Thursday tied for the lead with Seve Benson of England, Kruger credited his solid play in the sweltering heat to his time spent playing in Asia in recent months.
Kruger's nearest pursuers are Benson, Felipe Aguilar of Chile and George Murray of Scotland. The trio were followed by South Africans Jaco Van Zyl and Merrick Bremner, each with an eight-under-par 136.
Spanish ace Pablo Martin, who was chasing history with a chance to become just the fifth player to win the same European Tour event three times in a row, saw his title defence dashed as he shot a 19-over-par 163 and missed the cut for the weekend.
Aguilar shot the best round of the day, an eight-under-par 64.
"It was a solid day. You never win a tournament in the first two days, but you can always lose it," he said.
"As long as you put yourself into contention, then you are going to have a fun weekend."
The course, located in the African bush near the world-famous Kruger National Park, was created by South African legend Gary Player and billionaire businessman Johann Rupert.
As golfers tee off, eagles, antelope and buffalo can be seen around the creek. Crocodiles and hippos lurk in the lakes dotting the course.
The championship is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the South African Sunshine Tour.
Leading scores after the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship on Friday at the par-72, 6,631-metre Leopard Creek Country Club (RSA unless noted):
131 - Jbe Kruger 64-67
135 - Felipe Aguilar (CHL) 71-64, George Murray (SCO) 66-69, Seve Benson (ENG) 64-71
136 - Jaco Van Zyl 68-68, Merrick Bremner 68-68
137 - Bryce Easton 72-65, George Coetzee 66-71, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (FRA) 66-71, Garth Mulroy 69-68, Hennie Otto 69-68
138 - Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 68-70, Lloyd Saltman (SCO) 70-68, Andrea Pavan (ITA) 68-70, Tjaart van der Walt 69-69, David Hewan 67-71
139 - Robert Dinwiddie (ENG) 71-68, Steven Tiley (ENG) 70-69, Alan McLean (SCO) 66-73, Tano Goya (ARG) 69-70
140 - Graeme Storm (ENG) 72-68, Christiaan Basson 70-70, Peter Whiteford (SCO) 73-67, Chris Swanepoel 69-71, Linus Gillgren (SWE) 69-71, Joel Sjoholm (SWE) 74-66, Grant Muller 72-68
Missed cut:
148 - Anthony Michael 80-68
163 - Pablo Martin (ESP) 81-82
Note: Dunhill Championship co-sanctioned by European Tour and South African Sunshine Tour