Zander Lombard came through the field with a five-under-par 67 on Friday to climb inside the top 10 at the halfway mark of the DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Lombard, who finished sixth in last week’s Dubai Invitational, made four birdies on the front nine, but dropped his only shot of the day immediately after the turn on the 10th. He made two more birdies going home, on the 12th and the 17th, as he moved to six-under-par for the tournament and a share of seventh.
In the lead was American Cameron Young, who signed for an eight-under-par 64, despite a bogey on the ninth hole, his last of the round. That took him to 13-under after 36 holes, three strokes clear of Adrian Meronk of Poland and Andy Sullivan of England. They had 66 and 67 respectively, and three players were in a share of fourth, a further three shots back, on seven-under-par.
Lombard shared seventh with seven other players, including countryman Louis de Jager, who added to his opening four-under with a two-under 70 in the second round. Also in seventh was the player who had the round of the day, as his nine-under 63 lifted Masahiro Kawamura from three-over after the first round. The Japanese player was seven-under through six holes with five birdies and an eagle.
Hennie du Plessis had a four-under 68 to move to five-under in a share of 15th, with MJ Daffue on two-under after his second successive one-under-par 71. Dylan Frittelli and Cawey Jarvis made the cut on the number at level-par.
Missing out was Thriston Lawrence, who second-round 70 was not enough to rescue him from the consequences of his opening 75. Ockie Strydom was also out of the weekend at 10-over in 124th.
