David Drysdale in Joburg Open contention again as Scots go low in South Africa

David Drysdale, third in the same event two years ago, set up another title challenge in the Joburg Open after producing a flawless second-round performance to catapult himself up the leaderboard in South Africa.

On an encouraging day for most of the Scots in the field, the 35-year-old carded a six-under-par 65 on the tougher of the two courses being used for the opening two rounds at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington.

It put him on ten-under at the halfway stage, in a tie for ninth and just three shots behind the co-leaders, defending champion Charl Schwartzel and fellow South African Garth Mulroy as well as Englishman Jamie Elson.

Marc Warren is just outside the top ten after a 66 that included eight birdies on the same course, while Lloyd Saltman also made a significant surge up the leaderboard. Playing on the other course after opening with a level-par 71, the European Tour rookie was six-under for 16 holes when play was suspended due to bad light after a rain delay.

Sharing in the barrage of birdies, Scott Jamieson (66) moved to six-under, a shot ahead of Steven O'Hara, who set the tone for the Scottish contingent when he carded a 67 early in the day.

However, no-one will be feeling more confident about making their presence felt over the weekend than Drysdale, who also shot a 65 - in the first round - when he finished just two shots behind Dane Anders Hansen at the same venue two years ago.

"I didn't drive the ball particularly well but the rest of my game is in pretty good nick," said Drysdale after signing for his lowest score since the 2009 Madrid Masters, where he also finished third. "I'm battling with the driver a wee bit and hit a lot of 3-woods today to try to keep the ball in play. I hit a lot of good iron shots and one or two nice length putts finally went in. That was the tougher course I shot 65 on today and that was pleasing."

Drysdale used his strong performance in the event two years ago as a springboard for his best campaign so far on the European Tour. He failed to fire on all cylinders last season, missing out on the year-ending Dubai World Championship, but is now looking to get his 2011 campaign off to a flying start. "I'm in a good position three shots behind. I must have a little chance of being involved on Sunday," he added. "I am playing well enough to be in contention and if I can just sort the driver out that would be ideal. The goal this season is to win a title."

Warren, who needs a good finish here to secure a place in the Abu Dhabi Chapionship, could have been closer to the lead but for three bogeys on the back nine. However, the two-time European Tour winner will be heading into the weekend feeling confident he can earn a fair chunk of the money he needs to secure from limited starts to regain full playing privileges.

Saltman hadn't put a foot wrong until dropping a shot at the 16th - his final hole of the day."I played good yesterday but that was on the big course and just never really got it going," said the 25-year-old. "However, I got off to a good start today on the smaller course and played nice. The aim for the weekend is to keep producing more of the same and keep trying to climb the leaderboard."

Alastair Forsyth, on three-under for the tournament, also has a chance of making the cut when he, too, completes his round this morning, but George Murray (75 for 141) and Elliot Saltman (72 for 142) have both made early exits while Scott Drummond withdrew. Murray, tied for 14th at the start of the day, dropped 86 places after a round that contained three double-bogeys.