Zander Lombard produced late magic on day two of the Soudal Open to head into the weekend in a share of the lead with Tom Vaillant at Rinkven International Golf Club.
The South African, who had a one-stroke advantage after day one, drained a 31-footer on his last hole to join the Frenchman at the top of a stacked leaderboard at the halfway mark in Antwerp.
Related: Zander Lombard takes early lead in Antwerp
Teeing off on the tenth, Lombard made a birdie at the 11th and picked up another two shots at the 16th and 17th holes to make the turn in 32. More birdies at the first and fifth came either side of a bogey at the third before a final moment of magic on the last hole of the day.
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The 31-year-old’s display came after Vaillant produced a second consecutive bogey‑free round to set the early target, following up an opening 65 with a superb seven‑under‑par 64.
The 24-year-old, who started two shots off the pace, made his first birdie of the day at the fifth before picking up a further two shots in the succeeding holes to gain some early momentum.
He then added another four birdies after the turn to equal his lowest round of the season so far and move to the top of the leaderboard.
The pair sit three strokes clear of a group of five players, made up of Dane Jacob Skov Olesen, Spaniard Jorge Campillo, Englishman Ben Schmidt and South African duo Casey Jarvis and Richard Sterne.
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Elsewhere, Nicolas Colsaerts said an emotional farewell in front of friends and family on the 18th green, missing the cut in his final start by two strokes but ending his career grateful.
The 43-year-old wound back the clock and produced an eagle followed by three consecutive birdies to sign for a 69 and finish at one under par, officially drawing his 26-year career to a close after 505 DP World Tour starts.
Player quotes
Zander Lombard: It was just really solid. It was tricky today, being late in the field. The greens got a bit trampled, and it was really a hot day today, so it started getting a bit firm and a bit more bouncy. I think this weekend’s conditions are going to be really tricky.
It’s as simple as more of the same, just keep ticking my boxes. I gave myself a lot of opportunities today, and I think I only missed two greens. So, there was a lot of putting out there and reading the greens, but I just want to have a lot of chances tomorrow, keep hitting the fairways and the greens. It sounds very simple and bland, but that’s good golf; it’s pretty boring.
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Since my injury is almost two years ago, and a year and a half after the surgery, so it’s nice to just be back in the mix. Just before the surgery, I was 86 in the world, and top ten on the DP World Tour and playing great golf. It’s nice to see that I’m still capable of that, and I feel like I’m doing that again. I feel like I’m out to try and win now, and hopefully, it’s this weekend.
Tom Vaillant: It was very solid. I mean, I think it’s my fourth round in bogey-free in the last six rounds, so it was pretty good. I’m playing well, I’m enjoying it out there, back in Europe finally, so it feels good.
I’m just hitting a lot of greens. Even if I’m the fat side, just putting for birdie, it’s the main thing. Then I know on the shots where I feel confident, I can go for it, so I’m just giving myself 18 opportunities per round, and I’ll see.
Just staying patient and giving myself as much birdie opportunities as I can, for me, that’s the main thing. Then if I’m making putts, I will go low, and if not, I’m just going to try to shoot a good round, whatever happens.
