George - Anthony Michael took advantage of his solid play to fire a six-under-par 66 on the Outeniqua layout on Friday and take a one-stroke lead at the halfway mark of the Dimension Data Pro-Am being played at Fancourt.
He made an eagle and five birdies, with just a single bogey to reach 10-under-par for the tournament, and he held his slight edge over Ruan de Smidt, who burst through the field with a brilliant nine-under-par 63 on Outeniqua, Jean-Paul Strydom who carded five-under 67 on Montagu, and Tjaart van der Walt who signed for a four-under 69 at The Links.
"Outeniqua is the course to get a score on, but you've still got to hit the shots and you've still got to make the putts," said Michael.
"You've got a lot more wedges in your hand, but you've got to get your wedges in close."
The Dimension Data Pro-Am is played over all three courses at Fancourt - Outeniqua, Montagu and The Links. After the players have completed a round on each course, there will be a cut to the top 60 players and ties ahead of the final round on Montagu.
Michael was at something of a loss to explain exactly how he was leading.
"I've been working on a lot of things and they are starting to click now," he said. "But for me, what happens on the range and what I take onto the course are two different things. I have been struggling a bit with the swing for the last few weeks, but on the course, I seem a lot more confident. Sometimes you hold the reins and you get a little scared out there when you're in front. But my caddie just lets me carry on. Do what you're doing and the result will happen."
He was catapulted into the lead by his eagle on the second-last hole of his round.
"I got a good drive down the middle on 17 and I had 198 to the flag," he said. "I just hit a solid six-iron. It was actually quite unfortunate because I was only just short. I read the line perfectly and I made it."
For De Smidt, there was also a degree of confusion as to how he manged his 10-birdie blitz on his way to his 63.
"Yesterday I played nicely for level par, and today my driver was shocking, but the putter was unbelievable and I hit it close," he said.
"I'm very happy. It's always good to be in contention with a couple of rounds to go. I've got The Links tomorrow, so it will be a little tougher than it was today."
Strydom carded a five-under-par 67 with six birdies and a bogey for his share of second at halfway.
Van der Walt finished birdie-par-birdie in a round which had just a single bogey at The Links to get himself into contention.
Behind that trio, there was a group of eight players on eight-under for the tournament.
For now, for leader Michael, it's all about keeping going.
"I wasn't feeling too good coming in. But the way I'm playing at the moment, I must just ride the momentum and happens will happen," he said.