Kruger takes charge in South Africa

Malelane, South Africa – Jbe' Kruger shot five-under 67 stroke lead after two rounds of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Kruger finished 36 holes at 13-under-par 131. He matched the 36-hole scoring record that Retief Goosen first set in 1997 and Pablo Martin matched last year.

Seve Benson, who shared the first-round lead with Kruger, managed a one-under 71. He slipped into a share of second place at minus-nine. Benson was joined there by George Murray (69) and Felipe Aguilar (64), who had the low round of the day.

South Africans Jaco Van Zyl and Merrick Bremner both posted four-under 68s Friday. They are tied for fifth at eight-under-par 136.

George Coetzee, the highest ranked player in the field at world No. 95, shot one-under 71 and is one of five players tied for seventh at minus-seven.

Coetzee was within one shot of Kruger's lead, but he dropped five strokes in his last three holes with a bogey and two double-bogeys.

The first and second rounds were both completed Friday. Twenty-four players returned to Leopard Creek Country Club on Friday to finish their first rounds.

This is the second time this season that this tournament is being played. It was played last December, but counted towards the 2011 European Tour schedule.

Kruger, who finished 10th back in December, got his round going with an eagle on the par-five second. However, he gave those strokes right back as he bogeyed the third and fourth.

The 25-year-old South African birdied the par-four sixth for the second straight day to move back to minus-nine. He parred five in a row from the seventh.

Kruger, who owns two wins on the Sunshine Tour, birdied the 12th and 13th, both for the second straight round. He made it three in a row with a birdie at the 14th.

After three pars, Kruger birdied the par-five closing hole to finish four clear of the field.

"The putts just don't want to drop, believe it or not. I've been hitting it close the last couple of days," said Kruger, who thought his lead could have been even bigger. "I can't believe how the putt on 15 missed, and on 17, the same thing.

"I didn't have fun in the early part of my round, but later I did have fun. I think you should have fun, otherwise, why play? If you enjoy it, you tend to play better."

Benson played the back nine first on Friday and posted birdies on the 12th and 17th. Around the turn, he converted a birdie effort on the second to move to 11-under. However, Benson tripped to bogeys at the third and seventh to slide back to minus-nine.

Murray had three birdies and two bogeys in a six-hole span from the 11th. His second nine, the front nine, was much steadier with seven pars and two birdies.

Aguilar had back-to-back birdies from the 10th and again from the 14th to jump to minus-five. He birdied the 18th for the second day in a row, and he followed with a birdie at the first. Aguilar also birdied the fourth and eighth to grab a share of second.

NOTES: The cut line fell at even-par 144 with 67 players moving on to the weekend...Among those that missed the cut were PGA Tour veteran Deane Pappas, Niclas Fasth and James Kingston.