STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 27: Hennie du Plessis of South Africa tees off on the ninth hole on day two of the Investec South African Open Championship 2026 at Stellenbosch Golf Club on February 27, 2026 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
South African Hennie du Plessis hit a course record seven-under-par round of 63 to light up the 115th SA Open Championship on day two, hauling himself into the title frame, while Italian Francesco Laporta rose to the top of the leaderboard at Stellenbosch Golf Club on Friday.
Du Plessis was in superb form, sinking 10 birdies, but also hit three bogeys, and needed birdies on his final two holes, the par-four 17th and 18th holes, to secure the new course record.
He jumped up a massive 38 places on the leaderboard, after his even-par opening round, and right into the mix for the championship going into the weekend.
It was also a big moving day for Laporta, who followed up his four-under-par opening round with a six-under-par second round, featuring seven birdies and just one bogey, to take an outright lead on 10-under-par.
“I played some good golf today and made some good saves. There was no wind this morning so I tried to take advantage of that. It got tricky over the last few holes when the wind was picking up. But I played well yesterday and I played well today, so I am feeling good,” said Laporta after his round.
“I like to play in South Africa, it has been my second home for a long time. So I am looking forward to the weekend. I am just going to try and enjoy it like last weekend (a fourth placed finish at the Kenyan Open), and I am feeling good with two more days to go.”
Best of the rest
England’s Nathan Kimsey also made a big move, with his five-under-par round 65 moving up to second on nine-under, while SA’s Dean Burmeister struck a three-under-par 67, that saw him slip from joint first after day one, to third on eight-under.
Joining Du Plessis in a tie for fourth on seven-under is fellow South African Herman Loubser and Englishman Joe Dean.
It was a mixed day for one of the joint overnight leaders from day one, Spain’s Alejandro del Ray, after he hit an Eagle three on the par five fifth hole, but also struck five bogeys, and needed two birdies on the final three holes to loft himself into a tie for seventh on six-under, with Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino.
Top seed at this year’s SA open, American world number 18 Patrick Reed, followed up his first round one-over-par, with a second round one-under to sneak inside the cut.
At the other end of the leaderboard, rising local star Thriston Lawrence produced a poor second round four-over-par 74, to drop to two-over-par, which sees him miss the cut.
Other big names who will also miss the cut include SA’s former Masters champ Charl Schwartzel, despite a two-under-par round, as it wasn’t enough to wipe off his seven-over-par opening round, and multiple former champ Ernie Els, who finishes on six-over.
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