Bryce Easton opened up a four-shot lead with one hole to play before fading light brought an end to a windy day two at the European Tour’s Mallorca Golf Open.

The South African had entered round two a shot off the lead and with testing conditions greeting the early starters, he was still in that position when he teed off in the final group of the day.

The wind made scoring at Golf Santa Ponsa tough in the afternoon too but the 34-year-old made five birdies and a single bogey to get to 11-under before darkness brought the players off with one hole to complete.

Home favourites Jorge Campillo, Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez and Alvaro Quiros were in the clubhouse at seven under, as was Danish 18-hole leader Jeff Winther.

Easton has never held full playing privileges on the European Tour but a career best finish of 22^nd on the European Challenge Tour Rankings in 2019 meant he was able to secure two top-10s from 19 starts in 2020.

He has two more top-10s on the Race to Dubai in 2021 but is battling for a card at 195^th on the rankings, although a victory to go with his three Sunshine Tour wins will end those concerns.

“Lovely day, made it look a bit more difficult for myself on the back nine, had to grind out a few par saves,” he said. “I played the front nine lovely, managed to hang in. Tough coming in at the end there. Obviously getting dark. Overall, very happy with how today went, happy with where I am.

“There were a lot of cross winds that were – is it helping a fraction or hurting a fraction? – it’s one of those where you just don’t quite know. Small greens, small targets, so it’s definitely a factor. It was a tricky day.”

Next best of the South Africans was Jacques Kruyswijk who was one-under through 16 when play was suspended. At four-under, he’s in a share of 19^th. Zander Lombard carded a two-over 72 to be three-under in 22^nd, while Thomas Aiken had the same second-round score to move to two-under and 38^th. Louis de Jager was level-par through 17 and on one-under. Wilco Nienaber will miss the cut after a six-over 76 left him at seven-over for the tournament, while Haydn Porteous will also miss the weekend action after a four-over 74 put him at 16-over through 36 holes.