Forsyth shares South African lead
SOMERSET WEST (Reuters) -- Britain's Alastair Forsyth made the most of calm morning conditions in the South African Open's second round, carding a three-under-par 69 to take the joint clubhouse lead.
The 27-year-old Scot was joined on seven-under 137 at the par-72 Erinvale course by South Africa's Nico van Rensburg and Craig Lile, who had rounds of 70 and 68 respectively.
Overnight leader Brett Rumford of Australia battled to a two-over 74 in the more difficult afternoon, slipping back into a tie for fourth at six under.
"Today was brutal," Rumford said after struggling in strong winds. "It just shows what a contrasting golf course this can be -- it was totally different to yesterday.
"It didn't just have teeth today, it had fangs."
Scotland's Colin Montgomerie also endured a trying day, returning a 78 to drop to two over par for the tournament, while defending champion Trevor Immelman moved up the leaderboard with a 69, finishing at four-under 140.
Montgomerie, using new clubs, balls, shoes and a caddie, ran up a quadruple bogey eight at the 17th where he drove out of bounds before taking three putts from 35 feet with his second ball.
"I thought there was a hazard where the ball landed, but the hazard line was a ditch and of course over the ditch was lost ball, so I had to go back to the tee," said the seven-times European number one.
Forsyth, winner of the 2002 Malaysian Open, produced a consistent, bogey-free round which he felt could have been better.
"I probably played better on Thursday, but I was never in any trouble today," he said.
"It is the type of course that offers you chances if you are playing well. I didn't take them all today."
Copyright 2004
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.