American John Hahn mocked his world golf ranking of 881 by firing a 61 on Friday for a two-shot halfway lead in the Africa Open.
The 1.78-metre rookie carded an eagle and eight birdies and dropped no shots in his 10-under par second round over the 6,064-metre (6,632-yard) shortest European Tour course.
Hahn, who opened with a 65 at the East London Golf Club in the Indian Ocean town, is 16 under par to lead by two strokes from first-round pacesetter Ricardo Santos of Portugal.
A 24-year-old graduate of Kent State University in the American mid-west, Hahn is enjoying his first European Tour season after qualifying last year.
"I have been playing pretty well," he said. "Travelling to Africa, Asia and the Middle East in search of prize money and ranking points is a wonderful experience."
Santos returned a five-birdie 66 during a second round delayed 95 minutes by torrential morning rain and has not dropped a shot in the European Tour-Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned event.
Oliver Fisher from England is a further shot behind in third place after a 63 -- the joint second best round of the day with four birdies in each half.
Compatriot David Horsey is alone in fourth spot on 130, firing a second-round 64 in a tournament never won by a non-South African.
Shaun Norris and Retief Goosen were the first winners, and Major champions Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen (twice) and Darren Fichardt succeeded when the Africa Open joined the European circuit.
Defending champion Fichardt is the only former winner competing this year and a second-round 67 left him seven strokes behind Hahn.
