The 30-year-old signed for a 65 on Thursday before the storms arrived to take the overnight lead, but was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Victorian Ashley Hall and American Harold Varner III as the first round concluded on Friday morning.

Hall then carded an impressive 69 to set the clubhouse target in round two but Dodt posted the low round of the day to get to 12 under and take the lead into Saturday.

World No.7 Adam Scott came home in 32 to sign for a second consecutive 68 and sits at eight under alongside New Zealander Ryan Fox, a shot clear of Varner who signed for a second round even par 72.

A 65-67 start to the season represents a welcome return to form for Dodt – who made just seven of 20 cuts in the 2016 season – as he goes in search of a third European Tour title.

Dodt fires in an approach to set up for fourth birdie of the day. PHOTO: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

“The first handful of holes were really solid then I made a few birdies,” he said. “The first nine holes were really solid and then the back nine was as good as it gets, really. I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and holed some putts.

“It was pretty tricky this afternoon with the breeze. The back nine it died down a little bit.

“It was just a really solid day’s work.

“I’ll take it one shot at a time, one hole at a time. I’m really happy with where I’m at mentally, I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Hall made birdies on the 12th, 14th, 15th and last in his remaining seven holes while Varner’s birdie-birdie finish in his first round saw him also join Dodt at the top of the leaderboard.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD   |   THIRD ROUND TEE TIMES

Hall added a hat-trick of gains from the 13th and when he made another birdie on the 3rd, he was four shots clear. A triple-bogey was to follow on the next, though, as he found the water and missed a short putt before recovering with birdies on the 5th and 8th holes.

Dodt was among the later starters but he soon set to work reeling in Hall and made birdies on the 3rd, 8th and 9th for the second day in a row, before adding more birdies at the 14th, 15th and 17th holes.

However, a closing three-putt bogey took some of the gloss off the round but Dodt can still be happy with a satisfactory first two days.

Ashley Hall's recent good form has stayed with him at Royal Pines. PHOTO: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Scott made a slow start as he bogied the 2nd but he got back level on the 9th and that proved a catalyst as he came home in 32 with birdies on the 10th, 12th, 15th and 16th. His 9-iron tee shot at the 16th almost went in the hole and left his shortest birdie putt of the day.

He says his second round was the best day of ball-striking he’s had in two weeks, which is an ominous sign for the rest of the PGA field.

“My striking of the ball was crisp, it was strong. I started driving the ball properly and it carried on to the rest of my game as well,” Scott said.