England 's Matt Ford will take a narrow lead into the third day of the Africa Open after carding a second-round 66 at East London Golf Club . Ford took advantage of calmer conditions for the morning starters to card six birdies and an eagle , with his only blemishes coming on the ninth and 17th . That left the 36-year-old 11 under par and one ahead of Spain 's Eduardo de la Riva , who also returned a 66 containing eight birdies and two bogeys . England 's Matt Ford will take a narrow lead into the third day of the Africa Open at the East London Golf Club . Ford tees off on the eighth hole during the second round of the Africa Open at East London Golf Club . Ford , who was about to spend a winter working for Royal Mail before coming through November 's European Tour qualifying school at the 10th attempt , said : ' I do n't think you can ever get all of it out of the round . ' I missed a short one on 17 and hit a poor tee shot off nine , so those were a couple of mistakes , but you 're always going to make a few of those . I would have taken 11 under at the beginning of the day . ' I missed a couple of putts but I holed a couple and I holed a wedge ( from 119 yards for his eagle on the par-four 12th ) so I played some good stuff . I 've been hitting it pettty steady all year and the way the golf course is suits me ; you are not hitting full out shots , you are hitting quite a lot of half shots . I 've had good control of the ball so far this week . ' Andy Sullivan missed the cut after a disappointing 77 in the Africa Open left him five over par . Both of De la Riva 's bogeys came in his first three holes , but the world number 369 responded with a flurry of birdies to keep Ford well within in his sights . ' I played a very good round today with good golf and good putts . I am very happy with the first two rounds , ' he said . South Africa have provided all five previous winners of this event and four home players were inside the top seven on the leaderboard , with Jaco van Zyl and Erik Van Rooyen three off the lead on eight under alongside France 's Gregory Havret . Newly appointed Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke carded six birdies and two bogeys in a 68 . Van Zyl , who finished joint second the Joburg Open on Sunday , also shot 66 and said : 'Yesterday was really tough out there and I was very chuffed to pull two under out of it . I got it a lot easier this morning and when that happens you try to capitalise . ' Van Zyl 's compatriots Neil Schietekat and Trevor Fisher were one shot further back along with English pair David Howell and John Parry , Chile 's Mark Tullo and Germany 's Max Kieffer , whose 63 was the lowest score of the day . Ireland 's Kevin Phelan , who shared the overnight lead with Ford , could only add a 72 to his opening 67 to remain five under , one ahead of newly appointed Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke , who carded six birdies and two bogeys in a 68 . England 's Andy Sullivan , who was seeking a third win in South Africa in nine weeks , missed the cut after a disappointing 77 left him five over par . Kevin Phelan plays his sceond shot into the 14th green during the second round of the Africa Open .
Matt Ford took advantage of calmer conditions to secure a second - round 66 . colt hit six birdies and an eighth to leave the 36-year - old 11 under ##dog . South Africa have provided all three previous winners of this event . With van van Zyl and Erik Van Rooyen three off the lead on eight under .