Paul Howard claimed the clubhouse lead on a rain-affected second day at the Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf on the European Challenge Tour.
After a five hour and 40 minute rain delay, the Englishman carried on from where he finished yesterday, following a first round 68 with three birdies in five holes to reach the turn in 34.
The 25 year old, who made the initial 20-man squad for last year’s Walker Cup, then made two further gains over the back nine to sign for a 67 and reach seven under par after two rounds.
The Wigan-based player is one shot ahead of Ireland’s Ruaidhri McGee, and was delighted with his opening 36 holes in Lucerne.
“I have missed the last five cuts so it is just a relief to get through to the weekend,” he said. “It would obviously be great if I could go on and get a victory but I am very happy that I will be able to keep on playing.
“Today I just kept the ball in play and managed to get it round the course really nicely. I managed to keep out of the long rough here and hit it really well from tee to green.
“I putted okay, I didn’t hole as many as I could have, but I was very happy with the way I played today overall.
“Over the last few weeks on the Challenge Tour the scores have been so low, so it is nice to come to a course where you have to hit it straight and not just whack it - as that is my game.
“Going forward I will try to carry on keeping the ball in play as this is not a course where you can be too aggressive.”
Hot on the heels of Howard was McGee, who recovered from a double bogey to pick up seven birdies on his way to carding a five under par 66 to reach six under par after two rounds.
Mark Tullo shot the round of the day, signing for a six under par 65 to reach three under par overall. The Chilean made a hole-in-one on the par three 12th, using a pitching wedge to hole out on the 145-yard pin.
Overnight leader Andrea Pavan teed off this evening and will finish his second round tomorrow morning, when round two of the Swiss Challenge will be concluded.
