JOHANNESBURG (AP) Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen shot an 8-under 64 on Friday on the Firethorn Course to take a one-stroke lead in the European Tour’s Joburg Open.

Pulkkanen had a 14-under 129 total, playing the first 36 holes at Randpark without a bogey. He earned his tour card in last season’s Road to Oman.

”I’m really happy with my game,” the 27-year-old Pulkkanen said. ”I’ve been driving the ball really well, especially today, it’s a fantastic feeling.”

Article continues below …

India’s Shubhankar Sharma was second after a 61 on the Bushwillow Course.

Finland’s Mikko Korhonen and local favorite Erik van Rooyen were 12 under. Korhonen had a 65 on the Firethorn layout, and van Rooyen shot a 67 at Bushwillow.

The top three players who are not already exempt will earn spots in the British Open.

Nineteen players were unable to complete the second round because of a storm.

Kids, teenagers and 45-year-olds at the bar sipping on their fifth beer that definitely could have made that throw they just saw on TV alike have all had the same dream: suiting up for your favorite sports team. For most of us, it's nothing more than that, a dream. For St. Louis Blues season-ticket holder Tyler Stewart, the dream became reality on Thursday night.
Stewart, a 25-year-old vending machine worker, played goaltender for three seasons on the club team at Saint Louis University. According to NHL.com, that's how he was discovered by former Blue Jamie Rivers, who ran informal practices for the team during the lockout shortened 2012-2013 season. Stewart acted as the practice goalie for those practices, and parlayed it into a few stints as an extra goaltender during Blues prospect camps. He impressed enough to become the beneficiary of a new league rule that states each team must designate an “emergency goalie” to sit in the stands at each home game in case of injury. So..

Mitchell LeffPHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 7: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers makes the game winning three point basket in the final seconds of the game against Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on December 7, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Lakers defeated the 76ers 107-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)For casual NBA fans, it's hard to get excited about games in early December, especially if they don't involve the Cleveland Cavaliers or Golden State Warriors. But this doesn't mean the rest of the league isn't worth watching. There are plenty of young exciting stars and teams worth your full attention.
Many of these up-and-comers were on the court Thursday night when the L.A. Lakers played the Philadelphia 76ers, ..

Sergio Garcia adds to his 2017 hardware haul by winning European Golfer of the Year Award, thanks largely to his playoff win at the Masters in April

Joe RaedleLast weekend Florida python hunter Jason Leon captured and killed a record-setting python in the Everglades that measured 17 feet and weighed 133 pounds. The state of Florida paid Leon, a private citizen, minimum wage to hunt and kill the snake, the largest ever captured through the South Florida Water Management Department (SFWMD) python elimination program, incepted in March of this year.
If you're wondering whether we're about to go down a Florida python-hunting subculture rabbit hole (where pythons also go), I will tell you right off the bat that f—k yes we're going to do that.
Now this probably isn't the most Florida thing ever, because a new one happens along every day, but it's still pretty damn Florida, largely because it's the action of the state itself: The Florida government pays a squad of private citizens minimum wage to kill pythons. The state kicked off the program this March, hiring 25 expert pythoners and giving them what amounts..

It's no secret we live in harrowing times. Corruption and impropriety are rampant, with challenges to such wrongdoings met with cries of “FAKE NEWS!” Daily headlines, cycling through chaos, are so exhaustive they make one forget what they were worked up about 24 hours before, allowing whatever crime presented to go unchallenged. The common man has been pushed to the periphery, for it's not the most rational or logical voice that wins out, but the loudest.
Yet, a hope billows out of the carnage, crystalized in the form of two SoCal surfer bros, fighting for the right … to party.
The Los Angeles city council has recently launched a crusade to crackdown on house parties in the Hollywood Hills. An injustice these dudes just won't stand for:
If these woke warriors look familiar, they are the same pair that argued San Clemente should erect a Paul Walker statue on the city pier:
You may think you're fighting the good fight with a passionate Facebook hashtag or celebrity re..

Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw's stunning Sand Valley is inspired by Pine Valley and Sand Hills

Lexi Thompson talks about the ups and downs of her 2017 season and what it's like to play against the men.

The European Tour is in South Africa this week for the Joburg Open. More importantly, the most stylish man to ever walk on a golf course will be there. OK, so maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but seriously, check out this caddie!
LoadingView on Instagram
That outfit is straight fire.
According to the European Tour, Tapiwa Jingamatoro is this sartorial wizard's name. Even that dude in the background is checking out Tapiwa's threads and wondering where he can get some shorts like that. I know I am.
RELATED: The Tiger Woods T-shirt every golf fan needs for Christmas
Jingamatoro's boss, Denmark's Jeff Winther, is currently No. 440 in the Official World Golf Ranking, but there's very little info on his bagman with a bold look. However, a quick Getty Images search shows this isn't the first time Tapiwa has showed off a flair for fashion.
FacebookPinterestDavid CannonFacebookPinterestWarren LittleThis dude can even pull off a bucket hat? Now we're re..

Simon Cowell is no stranger to hurling some all-time insults at people, which is probably why he was unfazed when his crazy neighbor tossed a few his way while threatening him with a golf club over the TV star's parking habits.
The wild situation, first reported on by The Sun, occurred outside Cowell's West London home this week. In the video, which you can see here, the angry man next door can be heard threatening to smash up all the cars parked in front of his home with his trusty nine iron.
FacebookPinterestHe begins his rant with some gibberish, but then provides the most cringeworthy moment for every golfer watching, by slamming his nine iron on the pavement. Anybody else losing feeling in their hands just thinking about it? OUCH.
According to the report, the neighbor has accused Cowell of attracting crime to the area by leaving his garage doors open for long periods of time and parking his luxury cars in front of homes on their street, and he's not wrong. Cowell&#0..