Ross Fisher has his sights set on a first European Tour title in almost four years after claiming a one-shot lead at the midway point of the Tshwane Open.
The Englishman stormed home in 30 strokes to card a second round of 65 on the 7,964-yard Copperleaf course.
That gave the 33-year-old former Ryder Cup player a half-way total of 13-under, one ahead of Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen, the South African Open winner also returning a flawless 65.
Fisher was only one under par at the turn after a birdie on the first was followed by eight pars, but picked up further birdies on the 10th, 13th, 16th and 17th, along with an eagle from 40 feet on the 15th.
“It was pretty special. Any time you can do that is very pleasing,” said Fisher, whose last win came at the Irish Open in 2010.
“I made a nice birdie on the start of the back side and then hit a lovely shot into 13 to about a foot and that really got me going,” he continued.
“Eagling the par-five was a huge bonus. It was a shame not to birdie 18, but it was nice to cosy that chip-up stone dead and walk off seven under.”
Fisher reached a career-high 17th in the world in 2009 after finishing fifth in the US Open and winning the Volvo World Match Play Championship, but is currently ranked 82nd after failing to keep his card on the PGA Tour in 2013.
“I set high expectations for myself having got to 17 in the world,” he said.
“I haven’t won for a few years, even though I’ve played well. I’ve had chances and the putter has let me down for a number of tournaments and for quite some time now.
“To see the ball going in yesterday and holing some nice putts today gives me a lot of confidence and it all bodes well for a good weekend.”
England’s Simon Dyson and Spain’s Carlos del Moral lie two shots off the lead after rounds of 68 and 65 respectively, with Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey joining South African trio Darren Fichardt, Jake Roos and Trevor Fisher on 10-under after a spectacular 65.
Hoey, who carded seven birdies in a row from the 10th, said: “I made five in a row at the Dunhill Links (which he won in 2011) which was my record, and then I equalled that yesterday.
“When I made four today, I told myself to just try for my record. I made that, then I tried to break my record.
“Once I reached seven, I tried not to think of how far I could go.”
Dyson, who had shared the clubhouse lead after an opening 65, said: “It’s always tough to follow a low score because you always feel like you’re losing ground on what you had the day before.
“I’ve been out here quite a while now and I knew there were plenty of chances to come today.
“I also knew that I was putting nicely, so I just stayed patient and hit good putts and eventually a few of them dropped.”