Day two digest: 2020 Italian Open

Everything you need to know from day two at Chervò Golf Club.

Canter kept his nose in front, Colsaerts experienced the highs and lows of golf and Wiesberger kept his title defence ticking over on the second day of the 2020 Italian Open.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday in Brescia.

Canter continues to set the pace

Laurie Canter is aiming to keep the birdies coming over the weekend as he chases a maiden European Tour title. The 30-year-old, who made a fourth successful trip to Qualifying School in November on his ninth visit, added a second round 68 to his spectacular opening 60 to lead by two. “More of the same, definitely tomorrow,” he said. “You can't take your foot off around here, the scoring is going to be good, a lot of good players behind. I've got to go out and do what I'm doing and hopefully give myself a chance on Sunday.”

Burmester benefits from new approach

Dean Burmester is keen to “stay in the moment”. The South African added a 68 to his opening 64 to reach 12 under par and sit four shots adrift of Canter. “I keep telling myself to let loose, don't have any control, stay in the moment,” he said. “Whatever happens, happens. If you hit a putt and it goes in, it goes in; if you hit a bad shot so be it, that's just the way it goes. I think it's paying dividends because I'm playing quite nicely so if I can keep it up I should be alright.”

Colsaerts enjoys roller coaster round

Big hitters like Nicolas Colsaerts are more prone to golf's ups and downs but the Belgian's round on Friday was remarkable even by his standards. It began with four straight birdies but all that good work unravelled with four dropped shots over the next three holes. It would have been easy for Colsaerts to lose his cool at that point, but instead he reeled off another quartet of gains from the ninth. Five pars over the last six holes provided a comparatively mundane end but at nine under the 37-year-old remains in touch.

Wiesberger keeps title defence alive

Alongside Colsaerts is Bernd Wiesberger, who in a share of eighth retains hope of winning a second successive Italian Open. The Austrian added a 68 to his opening 67 and said: “It feels like I’m at 50 per cent, there’s nothing really going. Just picking up birdies on the par fives and not holing putts yet. Once that gets going, I’m hoping for a low weekend here.”

McGowan returns to top form

Ross McGowan was a European Tour winner in 2009, finished 12th on the Race to Dubai that year and almost made Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup team. However, by 2011 he had lost his European Tour card and has struggled to secure his status since. Could this be the 38-year-old's week? He is playing brilliantly and is Canter's nearest challenger on 14 under after following up Thursday's 66 with a 64 on day two.