62 has Oosthuizen in African Open lead

EAST LONDON, South Africa, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Louis Oosthuizen came within one stroke of the course record Friday in grabbing the lead halfway through the European Tour's Africa Open in South Africa.

Oosthuizen, the defending Africa Open champion, had an eagle and nine birdies in an 11-under-par 62. Richard Sterne set the East London Golf Club record with a 61 in 2008.

Oosthuizen is at 11-under 131 after 36 holes, two strokes clear of four players, including first-round leader Thomas Aiken.

Aiken shot 4-under 69 Friday and is tied with Retief Goosen (68), Jaco Ahlers (68) and Tjaart van der Walt (64) at 13-under.

Magnus Carlsson, who ran off an 8-under 65 in the second round, is alone in sixth at 12-under with four more players in at 11-under 135.

Oosthuizen opened Friday's play at the ninth hole with a birdie. After three pars he carded four birdies over six holes to get to 5-under after 10 holes.

He added birdies at Nos. 1 and 3 and lipped out an eagle chip at the fifth hole. But he was able to drop a 50-foot putt for a 2 at the par-4, 308-yard sixth hole, a hole he had a 6 on Thursday. Oosthuizen finished his round with a 25-foot birdie putt at 8.