Oosthuizen grabs Volvo Golf Champions lead

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DURBAN, South Africa, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Louis Oosthuizen closed with back-to-back birdies Friday in taking a one-stroke lead at the European Tour's Volvo Golf Champions event in South Africa.

Oosthuizen finished his first nine of the second round with three consecutive birdies and the fast close at 17 and 18 gave him an 8-under-par 64. He is at 12-under 132 after 36 holes.

That's just better than first-round leader Thongchai Jaidee and Scott Jamieson, who are tied at 11-under. Jamieson, despite a bogey, matched Oosthuizen's 8-under score Friday. Jaidee had an eagle and a bogey in a 4-under 68 in his second round.

Six players are tied for fourth at 5-under 139, seven strokes off the lead.

Oosthuizen had three bogeys in his first-round 68 but was bogey-free Friday. He posted back-to-back birdies at Nos. 3 and 4 before ending the front nine with birdies over 7, 8 and 9. He added another at the 13th hole before the closing birdies at the par-4 17th and 18th holes.

A total of 33 players are in the Volvo Golf Champions event. Players earned invitations by winning a European Tour event last year.