Clark takes 3 shot lead into the weekend

Tim Clark briefly lost his grip in the dying holes on the Erinvale golf course, but managed to hold on to his outright lead in his title defense at the South African Airways Open Championship on Friday.

Clark, who trailed the first round leader Jean Hugo by one stroke after an opening 67, fired an identical 67 to settle for an aggregate 10-under-par 134 at the halfway stage, the South African Press Association reported.

``I played solidly today and I'm in a strong position for tomorrow,'' said Clark. ``Obviously when the wind starts to blow, that can disappear pretty quickly.''

``I feel the way I'm playing I'm eliminating mistakes and I feel pretty comfortable if I keep playing the way I am,'' Clark said.

Clark pulled three strokes clear of Peter Lawrie and former Ryder Cup player, Andrew Coltart of Scotland. The duo both added 69s to their opening 68s and is joint second on seven-under-par 137.

The day's best round of 66 belonged to Nick Dougherty, who was hoisted from level-par overnight to six-under and a share of fourth position. The English professional finished on 138 with fellow Europeans Rolf Muntz of Holland and Gary Murphy of Ireland.

Overnight leader Hugo kept in touch with a 73 second round and is grouped in a foursome rounding out the top 10. Hugo, Bobby Lincoln and James Kingston joint second after the first round and England's Simon Hurd finished five off the pace on 139.

The diminutive Clark drove home his place at the top of the leaderboard with a spectacular flash of flair -- hitting an eagle at the 13th hole.

``I got off to a great start when I birdied the 1st (dogleg right) one of the most difficult holes on the course,'' said Clark, who became the first qualifier to win the prestigious title in the 92-year history of the event at Durban Country Club last year.

Clark, who opened with a bogey-free 67 on Thursday, dropped only one shot in his loops of 32 and 35 on Friday.

``With the lack of wind today, I knew I had everything to play for,'' said the South African No. 4.

Clark got off to a fast start, clinching his first birdie after a huge drive down the fairway at the first.

Birdies at the third, seventh and eighth stretched the lead for the 27-year-old, who turned at nine-under, two clear of the field.

Clark drove home his advantage with a mammoth eagle at the 489-meter par-5 13th.

With pars at the two closing holes statistically the most difficult over the last two days, he assured himself a good night's sleep.

Two-time Sunshine Tour winner Justin Rose of England finished seven off the pace on 3-under in the company of local professional Trevor Immelman.

England's Lee Westwood was one of the first victims of the cut, which came at 2-over-par 146. The former Volvo Order of Merit fired a costly finished on 8-over-par and missed the cut by six strokes.

Playing with the big guns certainly paid off for amateur Peter Karmis.

Karmis, who was grouped with Immelman and Westwood over the last two days, carded a 71 to survive the cut on the nose -- the only amateur to stay the weekend.

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