Sweden’s Peter Hanson and England’s Ross Fisher were the leading European Tour members at The US Open Championship as half of the field completed their second rounds at Bethpage Black.
Hanson carded six pars and a bogey on the resumption of play to finish with a 71 and an aggregate score of three under par, while Fisher was a shot further back on two under after a second round of 68.
American Ricky Barnes led the way on eight under after following his opening 67 with a magnificent bogey free round of 65.
His aggregate score of 132 was the lowest 36 hole score in US Open history - beating the record previously held by Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh who both shot 133 at Olympia Fields in 2003.
Overnight leader Lucas Glover also managed to keep a bogey off his card as he completed his second round in 64 strokes, putting him a shot behind Barnes on seven under.
Canada’s Mike Weir, who led after round one, was a further shot behind on six under after posting a 71.
There then followed Hanson, together with Japan’s Azuma Yano and former world number one David Duval, while Fisher was joined at two under by Canadian Nick Taylor and Americans Todd Hamilton and Sean O’Hair.
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell was at one under having led the early starters with his opening 69 on Friday - a round completed in much tougher conditions over the first two days.
World number two Phil Mickelson was alongside McDowell on one under, one ahead of a host of European Tour members including Ian Poulter and Johan Edfors.
Their half of the draw, which also included the reigning major champions Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Angel Cabrera, were preparing to go out for their second rounds expecting a much tougher time of it with heavy rain closing in on Long Island.
Meanwhile, Spain's Sergio Garcia posted his second successive round of 70 to remain on level par for the tournament.
South Africa’s Retief Goosen, a two-time US Open winner, was another safely in the clubhouse on one over following an encouraging second round of 68.
Denmark’s Soren Hansen was also on one over after dropping three shots on his return to the course this morning, while 20 year old Rory McIlroy carded 70 in his second round to lie on two over.
