Grace in place for successive wins at Volvo

• By Associated Press
• Jan 20, 2012 11:54 AM ET

GEORGE, South Africa—South African Branden Grace moved closer to consecutive European Tour victories as he claimed a four-stroke lead in Friday’s second round of the Volvo Golf Champions.

Grace, winner of his first European Tour event in last week’s Joburg Open, signed for a 66 and a 12-under-par 134 total at The Links at Fancourt.

South Africa’s Thomas Aiken (70) and England’s Lee Slattery (65) are his nearest challengers at 8 under.

European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal moved into contention at 7-under with a 68.

On another benign day of weather conditions, Grace birdied four of his first six holes and made his only bogey of the round at the 7th. After a birdie at the 10th, he made three consecutive birdies from the 14th.

“It’s been an amazing start for me. I’ve been really calm the past couple of days, which is a big relief,” he said. “It’s kept the nerves down, and that has allowed me to just play golf and enjoy it like last week.”

Grace’s ball striking was once again the highlight of his game.

“I’ve been hitting the ball unbelievably well. I’ve been putting myself in the right spots on the golf course and taking what has come my way.”

At four shots off the lead, Aiken is not concerning himself too much with Grace’s intimate knowledge of the course. Grace grew up in the nearby town of George and declares The Links his favorite course.

“I know Branden has a good knowledge of the golf course and is playing some fantastic golf, but there are still 36 holes left,” Aiken said.

Slattery is equally content with his position at the halfway mark of this tournament following a round he described as the best of his career.

“I think it’s probably the best, with it being such a big event and so many great players as well,” Slattery said. “It was just one of those rounds I’m going to remember for the rest of my life, and hopefully it can kickstart something for me.”

Olazabal heads into the weekend only five shots behind the leader and enjoying his best start to a season in recent years.

“The last couple of years I’ve played pretty poorly, so improving that, it was not all that difficult,” he said.