South Africa's Casey Jarvis grabs halfway lead at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

The South African, who claimed the Magical Kenya Open presented by Asba and the Investec South African Open Championship earlier this year, found the par-five ninth green (his 18th) at Kingsbarns with his second shot and two-putted from long range.

Jarvis made seven birdies and two bogeys for a second-round 67, adding to the opening round 66 he carded at Carnoustie on Thursday.

"I played really nicely," he said afterwards. "I felt the whole day, hit the ball really solid. My approach play was really good. Luckily rolled in a few putts in my front nine, which is the back nine, and I just felt really in control of my game out there.

"The wind was not what I expected it to be today. I thought it would be a bit more windier, so the front end played pretty gettable. Yeah, I made a few good birdies out there, especially a good birdie on 18. It hit two nice approach shots, and yeah, I mean, capitalised with holding a few putts.

"Kind of let a few slip on the front nine. Didn't make as many putts as I would have liked to, so to finish off with a birdie is always nice going into tomorrow.

"It's nice to have the old course for two rounds in a row now. You watch the Open growing up as a kid and now to be in contention in a tournament like this. Yeah, I'm just looking forward to it and I can't wait to get out there over the weekend."

One shot behind him is a trio of players - Repetto Taylor, Daffue and Jordan - who are all seeking their maiden titles on the DP World Tour.

Starting at the tenth, Repetto Taylor had the lowest round of the day, an eight-under 64 around Kingsbarns, charging to the top of the leaderboard with four birdies and eagle on his back nine.

It's a brilliant momentum builder for Taylor, who is currently 159th on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World and has missed nine of his last 11 cuts, but the Spaniard is positive about where his game is.

"I started playing links golf about two years ago, and once I started playing, I love it, to be honest, just how creative you have to be and all different type of shots," said Taylor, who had the lowest round of the day, an eight-under 64 around Kingsbarns.

"It's pretty cool. I've been playing some great golf for the last couple two months. It just hadn't clicked. Coming into this week making the most of the starts I have left and trying to enjoy myself."

A shot behind them are the quartet of Ivan Cantero, Sam Bairstow, Niklas Norgaard and Ollie Schniederjans, while a large chasing pack on eight-under includes defending champion Robert MacIntyre and Brooks Koepka.

In the Team competition, Daffue and his partner Paul Harris retain their lead at 21-under, alongside Daniel Hillier and his partner Craig Heatley - winner of the competition in 2004 with Fred Couples - who shot a collective 59 at Kingsbarns on Friday.