Bernd Wiesberger continued his excellent recent form to grab a share of the halfway lead on another enthralling day at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.
The Austrian carded a second round 67 at Royal County Down to join Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Dane Søren Kjeldsen, Scotland’s Richie Ramsay and English pair Tyrrell Hatton and Chris Wood on three under par at the halfway stage.
Two-time European Tour winner Wiesberger finished sixth, third, tied fourth and second in his first four events of the season, and currently sits 11th in The Race to Dubai.
The 29 year old from Vienna started on the back nine and turned in a scintillating 31 on another day of fluctuating weather and brutal links conditions with three birdies and an eagle at the long 18th.
Two bogeys followed on the more difficult front nine, but Wiesberger birdied the ninth, his last, for a share of the overnight lead.
"I'm hitting it much better than last week. I put in some work on the weekend after what was a disappointing week at Wentworth. I drove the ball really nicely so far this week. It's important here, the fairways are not wide, to get chances, you need to come out of the fairway. I think I've done is pretty well today.
“The back nine was definitely some of the best I've played,” said Wiesberger. “Obviously you’ve got to hole a couple of putts and sometimes you've got to scramble a little bit.
“I played pretty well today, even though I don't think anyone was going out there today without any dropped shots - it's hard. I really, really enjoyed the challenge out there and considering all that, I think this is one of my best rounds.”
The 40 year old Dane Kjeldsen, who collected the last of his three European Tour titles in 2009, threatened to lead outright when he recorded three birdies in his first ten holes.
But tangling with thick rough on the fourth and sixth led to bogeys as he signed for a round of 70.
“Today was very rewarding because I putted really well today, which is something I haven't really been doing,” said Kjeldsen, who recorded his first top 40 finish of the season in Spain two weeks ago on his 40th birthday. “I needed that today because finishing on the front nine here today, I think was the toughest of the nine holes I've played for the two rounds.
“The putter saved me a lot and I still hit the ball really well, but I felt like I kept the score more under control today.”
Hatton's 66 was the best round of the week and equalled the lowest score ever recorded at Royal County Down, the 23 year old carding an eagle, six birdies and three bogeys.
"I got off to a great start and that was the key for me," said Hatton, who started eagle-birdie-birdie and also chipped in for birdie on the 13th. "Thankfully I kept it going and had a good finish.
"I had a sixth in Abu Dhabi and was eighth in China so it hasn't been a bad season, but I haven't been really close to the leaders so I am looking forward to the weekend."
Ramsay was round in an impressive 67, while Cabrera-Bello birdied two of the last three for a 68 and Wood signed for a 69.
Padraig Harrington was frustrated not to be in a commanding position to win a second title as tournament host Rory McIlroy missed the cut for the third year in succession.
Three-time Major Champion Harrington predicted on Wednesday that an Irish player would lift the trophy on Sunday, with World Number One McIlroy seemingly the most likely contender.
However, while McIlroy could only add a second round of 71 to his opening 80 at a windswept Royal County Down, a 73 on Friday left Harrington just one shot off the lead.
The 26 year old McIlroy was in sight of making the cut when he followed his first birdie of the week on the seventh with another on the 12th, only to thin a pitch on the 15th and three-putt from off the green for a double bogey.
"I was trying as hard as I could but just couldn't get a good run of holes going," added McIlroy, who had pledged to donate his prize money this week to his own foundation. "Unfortunately I just left myself too much to do.
"The support out there was phenomenal and it's the third year in a row they are not going to see me playing on the weekend. I'm more disappointed for them. I'm honestly looking forward to two weeks off before the US Open."
Harrington briefly enjoyed a five-shot lead when, having started on the tenth, he followed six straight pars with birdies on the 16th and 17th and picked up another shot on the first.
However, he then played the remaining eight holes in five over par.
"I'm pleased to be in contention but I would have preferred to be seven or eight under par and in a good position to move away from the field," said the 43 year old.
"I'm now in a position where I need to play well over the weekend and not have anything go against me. There will be a lot of people who just make the cut who will think they can win now that I've come back to the pack. It will be a tougher weekend and I won't have the luxury of any more bad runs."
