Golf: Saltman makes charge after hitting 67 at Africa Open

ELLIOT SALTMAN set out in today's second round of the Africa Open aiming to maintain the sparkling form that catapulted him up the leaderboard late on the opening day at East London.

The 28-year-old, playing in only his second event since securing a European Tour card at the Qualifying School in Spain, earned a share of second place in the clubhouse after firing a six-under-par 67.

Out in two-under after starting at the ninth, Saltman sparked his surge with an eagle-3 at the third - his 13th - before adding two birdies over the closing stretch. "I played really well, hitting 15 greens in regulation," the Aegon player told the Evening News. "My eagle came courtesy of a 5-iron that I hit stiff."

The week after passing the Qualifying School test in Spain, Saltman, who has still to face a European Tour hearing over his disqualification from last season's Russian Challenge Cup, missed the cut in the South African Open. But a family holiday in the Canary Islands over the festive period gave him the chance to re-charge his batteries ahead of the first European Tour event of 2011.

"It was nice to have time off as I needed the break," added Saltman, who was lying just a shot behind the leader, South African Brandon Pieters, as 24 players returned to the course first thing this morning to complete their opening rounds.

Making it a good day for the Saltman family, brother Lloyd also made a promising start in the Eastern Cape event with a five-under-par 67.

Out earlier in the day, he was convinced he was going to earn the family bragging rights when Elliot reached the eighth - his ninth hole - at two-under but didn't mind finishing the day a shot behind his sibling.

"It's a great start for both of us, especially when you consider we've not played much since the South African Open in Durban," said the 25-year-old.

Cockburnspath-based David Drysdale was also poised to be in a good position heading into the second round. Taking up where he'd left off when finishing eighth and then 23rd in the two South African events before Christmas, the 35-year-old opened his bid with a three-under-par 70. Drysdale signed for six birdies in matching a score that was also posted by Alastair Forsyth.