South Africa's Zander Lombard retains share of Soudal Open lead in Belgium

The South African, who held a one stroke lead after the opening round in Belgium, holed a long-range birdie putt from 31 feet at the last to join the Frenchman at the top of the leaderboard after 36 holes.

He began his round on the back nine with a birdie at the 11th, adding back-to-back birdies 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.

The 31-year-old, who talked on Thursday about struggling to string together four consecutive rounds together since regaining his card at DP World Tour School last November, said he felt like things were finally starting to come together following his injury nearly two years ago.

"It was just really solid," he said.

"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.

"I've been pretty aggressive off the tee. My woods are kind of my strong points this week, so I'm leaning on them and trusting on them, and hopefully they behave this weekend.

"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."

Lombard and Vaillant sit three strokes clear of a group of five players, made up of Jacob Skov Olesen, Casey Jarvis, Richard Sterne, Jorge Campillo and Ben Schmidt.

Elsewhere, Belgium's 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.

After 505 events, a Ryder Cup and three DP World Tour titles, he ended his career grouped with great friends in Marcel Siem and Alexander Levy playing in front of home fans.

"When you look at the images, you can tell it means the world. When you walk a fairway like this, with your whole family, with your parents... I've learned the last couple of years that it's okay to show emotions. I have no problem with it. And I just hope that people will understand what it means to the majority of us who do this for a living, to have good times, but also navigate bad times. And this is why there's tears. It a lot to take.

"I'll probably have a look tonight and feel those vibrations again. I wouldn't want it to end any other way, than having my loved ones around me."