Peter Hanson continued his charge towards an automatic Ryder Cup spot by moving to six under par to claim the joint lead in the Czech Open at the Prosper Golf Resort in Čeladná.
Hanson requested an invite from the promoters to play the tournament after a strong showing in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational as he looks to cement a place in Colin Montgomorie's European team.
And he has enjoyed a solid second round thus far, shooting one under par through his first 12 holes.
With the players starting their rounds on the tenth, the Swede made a great start by birdying the 11th.
However, a bogey followed on the 12th to halt his progress before he moved back into the lead with a birdie on the 16th.
Another bogey on the 16th brought him back to par for the day, but he responded with a birdie on the 18th to move to six under par.
Fellow countryman Fredrik Andersson Hed, whose only win on The European Tour came at this year’s BMW Italian Open, is also six under after a brilliant start to his round.
Starting as he intended to go on, Andersson birdied the tenth and, after producing solid golf to par the next five, moved into the lead with consecutive birdies on 16, 17 and 18.
Shiv Kapur, who shot a brilliant 66 to claim the lead yesterday, has yet to begin his second round.
Argentinian duo Clodomiro Carranza and Tano Goya are breathing down their necks, though.
The former, who double bogeyed his final hole yesterday, started poorly with bogeys on the 10th and 13th, but he followed up a birdie on the 16th with an excellent eagle on the first.
And his best was yet to come as he produced a sensational approach shot on the par three third to claim another birdie and move to five under after 13.
Goya has yet to start his second round.
