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Grace in major contention

Cape Town - South Africa's Branden Grace produced a fine second round to move within one of the leaders at the US Open at Chambers Bay.

Trailing the first round leaders by four, Grace got off to a fast start with a birdie at the first hole and despite dropping a shot on the third hole, managed to move up the leaderboard with a front nine 33 (-3).

The 27-year-old then made a steady start his back nine with a birdie at the short par 4 12th hole. Unfortunately for Grace, he immediately gave that shot straight back on the 13th after being unable to tame the 551 yard par 5.

Playing in just his third US Open, Grace played the next four holes in -1 to move into a tie for the lead on -5.

The Fancourt star's stay at the top of the leaderboard was brief after he could only manage a bogey his 36th hole of the competition.

Overnight leaders Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson were unable to repeat their round one heroics on the tough layout in University Place as young stars Patrick Reed (69) and Jordan Spieth (67) moved into the lead on -5.

Johnson shares third place with Grace after carding a 71 while Stenson dropped outside of the top 10 after signing for a four over par 74.

Grace will aim to continue his fine US Open showing in the third round alongside Johnson.

On Saturday, on what is traditionally known as "moving day" in the golfing world, Grace will be hoping to remain in contention but will no doubt have an eye on becoming the first South African golfer to win this major since Retief Goosen did it in 2004 at Shinnecock Hills.

Goosen failed to make the cut despite carding a second round 71.

Second round scores at par-70 Chambers Bay golf course:

135 - Patrick Reed (USA) 66-69, Jordan Spieth (USA) 68-67

136 - Dustin Johnson (USA) 65-71, Branden Grace (RSA) 69-67

137 - Joost Luiten (NED) 68-69, Daniel Summerhays (USA) 70-67, Tony Finau (USA) 69-68, Ben Martin (USA) 67-70

138 - J.B. Holmes (USA) 72-66, Jamie Lovemark (USA) 70-68, Jason Day (AUS) 68-70

139 - Alexander Levy (FRA) 70-69, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 65-74, Kevin Kisner (USA) 71-68, Brian Campbell (USA) 67-72, Shane Lowry (IRL) 69-70

140 - Andrs Romero (ARG) 71-69, Matt Kuchar (USA) 67-73, Jason Dufner (USA) 68-72, Cameron Smith (AUS) 70-70

141 - Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 69-72, Adam Scott (AUS) 70-71, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 70-71, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 68-73, Paul Casey (ENG) 72-69, Jack Maguire (USA) 73-68, Brandt Snedeker (USA) 69-72

142 - Kevin Na (USA) 70-72, Ollie Schniederjans (USA) 69-73, Marc Warren (SCO) 68-74, Justin Rose (ENG) 72-70, Lee Westwood (ENG) 73-69, Ernie Els (RSA) 72-70, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 71-71

143 - Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 73-70, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 77-66, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)) 74-69, Chris Kirk (USA) 70-73, Beau Hossler (USA) 71-72, Phil Mickelson (USA) 69-74, Cameron Tringale (USA) 75-68, Mark Silvers (USA) 72-71, Cheng Tsung Pan (TPE) 71-72

144 - Sam Saunders (USA) 72-72, Jim Furyk (USA) 71-73, Keegan Bradley (USA) 73-71, Brooks Koepka (USA) 72-72, Robert Streb (USA) 74-70, Kevin Chappell (USA) 69-75, Zach Johnson (USA) 72-72, Billy Horschel (USA) 72-72, Denny McCarthy (USA) 71-73, Ryan Palmer (USA) 74-70, Charlie Beljan (USA) 69-75, Brad Elder (USA) 76-68, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 72-72, Luke Donald (ENG) 73-71, John Senden (AUS) 72-72, Brad Fritsch (CAN) 70-74

145 - Camilo Villegas (COL) 72-73, Sergio Garca (ESP) 70-75, Ian Poulter (ENG) 72-73, John Parry (ENG) 72-73, Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 69-76, Jimmy Gunn (SCO) 72-73, Thomas Aiken (RSA) 74-71, George Coetzee (RSA) 72-73, D.A. Points (USA) 74-71, Nick Hardy (USA) 70-75, Jimmy Walker (USA) 72-73, Morgan Hoffmann (USA) 71-74, Troy Kelly (USA) 72-73, Webb Simpson (USA) 72-73, Andy Pope (USA) 74-71, Angel Cabrera (ARG) 70-75

South Africans that missed the cut:

146 - Garth Mulroy (RSA) 74-72

148 - Retief Goosen (RSA) 77-71

150 - Tjaart Van der Walt (RSA) 77-73

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