First-round leader Robert MacIntyre was joined by Marc Warren and Richie Ramsay in a Scottish takeover of the top five of the 2023 Made in HimmerLand day two leaderboard.
While Spain’s Nacho Elvira surged to the summit with an almost flawless 62 to reach nine under par, MacIntyre was just one shot back after following up his opening 64 with a two-under-par 68.
Warren and Ramsay both shot 64 on an easier second day of scoring in Farsø to sit at six under, one behind England's Ross Fisher.
Starting on the back nine, MacIntyre kept up his momentum from Thursday – when he gained five shots in seven holes – by birdieing the 14th, 15th and 17th for the second day in succession.
He came back in 36 after a bogey at the seventh but said: “It was solid. Really good opening nine. The putter just went a wee bit cold on the back nine but, all-in-all, it was solid after yesterday’s round to come out and shoot a reasonable number.
“I don’t think the wind is going to be as strong tomorrow, not sure about Sunday but just got to keep doing the same stuff.
“Driving it well, iron play is good, and I’m rolling it nicely so try and warm the putter back up and let them have it.”
Warren won this tournament in 2014 and said: “Good memories, feelgood factor, always helps.
“Some of the signage up around the place, you see the year you’ve won, there are a few plaques around the place so it’s really nice. It’s been mentioned a few times this week so that always brings back good memories.”
His round was sparked into life immediately by birdies at the first four holes and he added: “It was nice getting out in a bit of sunshine this morning. Less wind after the battle yesterday afternoon, so it was nice to take advantage of the better conditions this morning. Got off to a really hot start.
“Got the usual kind of comments yesterday: ‘Scottish, you’ll be used to this,’ and all of that but, to be honest, speaking for myself, I don’t think there are many more fair weather golfers than me. Conditions like that, you just have to grit your teeth and get on with it.”
Ramsay, though, said: “If you go straight across the water, you’re going to hit Scotland. So in regards to conditions, wind, temperature, it’s very similar to what we’re used to.
“The ball flies the distance we think it should do because you’re used to it and I think we see shapes a little bit more. We don’t see dead straight shots, if that makes sense, so we’re used to the ball moving in the wind.”
The highlights of Ramsay’s round came when he made birdie putts from 30 feet at the first hole, his tenth, and 23 feet at the seventh.
He said: “Yesterday set me up really well. Level par on a normal day in Denmark wouldn’t be that great but it was really tough yesterday.
“Today, slightly lighter breeze, same direction, getting used to the course a little bit more, played very well, missed one fairway by a yard so that set me up well off the tee. Make a few putts and it helps.”
