David Horsey extended his overnight lead to three shots as the second round of the M2M Russian Open began in Moscow.
Leading by one overnight after a flawless opening 65, the Englishman initially came back to the pack with bogeys at the 12th and 13th after starting his second round at the tenth.
But birdies at the 14th, 15th and 18th steadied the ship as Horsey turned in 35, and with playing partner Scott Jamieson and fellow Scot Pete Whiteford over par for their outward nines the two-time European Tour winner found himself leading by three on eight under par.
Jamieson went out in a one over 37 to be part of a ten-way tie for second, with seven of those players yet to tee off.
Only Scotland’s Jack Doherty, who was level par through ten holes, and Spain’s Nacho Elvira, at two under through seven, were out on the course. Jack Wilson, Oliver Bekker, Louis de Jager, Thomas Pieters, Max Kieffer, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Rikard Karlberg were all among the afternoon starters.
Whiteford ran up a double bogey at the seventh as he slipped back to three under for the week.
