Nadia van der Westhuizen finishes with a flourish to lead Joburg Ladies Open

Home favourite Nadia van der Westhuizen holds the halfway lead at the Joburg Ladies Open after firing a round of five-under-par 68 on Friday to move to nine under for the tournament.

Playing in the morning, and starting on the 10th hole, the Sunshine Ladies Tour player was level par for her round with five holes remaining before she lit things up at Modderfontein Golf Club, finishing with five straight birdies to take the outright lead.

"It was a very good start," Van der Westhuizen, whose best result on the Sunshine Ladies Tour this season is a tie for 14th at last week's Jabra Ladies Classic, said.

"A bit shaky in the middle but a very good back-nine as well. I finished very well. This week I just came out to enjoy it. I didn’t expect anything at all and it’s paid off a little bit, I’m just having fun."

Hot on her heels in Ladies European Tour rookie Chiara Tamburlini. The Swiss star matched the South African’s score with some fine play, carding five birdies and one eagle to move to eight under.

Thailand’s Aunchisa Utama is third, with the rookie registering a solid 71 to move to six under.

Another rookie, Singapore’s Shannon Tan, is one back on five under par after carding a 72 . She was joined by Czech’s Tereza Melecka late into the day thanks to her bogey-free 69 .

Belgium’s Manon De Roey and Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck share sixth on four under.

Lauren Walsh survived the cut and sits on three over after a 76, but Olivia Mehaffey's tournament is over after she followed up an inauspicious 78 with an 81 to conclude on 13 over.