Home favourite Martin Kaymer overcame a sluggish start to join Ernie Els in a share of the lead during the second round of the BMW International Open.
South African Els had held a one shot advantage overnight after opening with a brilliant nine under par 63 at Golfclub München Eichenried, but the field had a chance to surpass The Open Champion given his second round afternoon tee time.
Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen did just that with two birdies in his first three holes, but the two-time European Tour winner then faltered with two bogeys and a double bogey six at the 16th to fall off the pace.
Kaymer had opened with four pars and a bogey at the 14th, but the 2008 winner birdied the 16th and 18th to turn in 35 and join Els on nine under.
Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello was three under through ten and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger two under through nine to join England’s Matthew Baldwin and Swede Alex Noren - like Els afternoon starters - on eight under par.
The scoring certainly appeared less frenetic than the opening day, with Dane Morten Ørum Madsen going best at five under through ten to boost his prospects of making the cut after an opening 74.
Kaymer dropped back into a tie for second with a bogey at the fourth, but defending champion Danny Willett stormed into contention with a 20 foot birdie at the fifth taking him to five under for the day and eight under overall.
