Sweden’s Fredrik Widmark surged into the lead at the dual ranking Cadillac Russian Open after a second consecutive round of five under par 67 left him one stroke ahead of his fellow countryman Mikael Lundberg on a day of perfect conditions at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club.
The sun split the skies all day over Moscow, with Widmark – twice a winner on the European Challenge Tour this season – among the players taking full advantage of the glorious conditions.
He was not alone, though. Scotland’s Marc Warren, another European Challenge Tour champion of 2005, carded the lowest round of the week with his brilliant second round of eight under 64 to move to six under par, while Sweden’s Steven Jeppesen and Welshman Mark Mouland posted a pair of 66s to move to five and three under respectively.
Lundberg, along with Englishmen Ben Mason and Shaun Webster, posted second round 68s to keep themselves in contention for the €67,599 first prize. Mason and Webster are one behind Lundberg on eight under, while Spain’s Jesus Maria Arruti is just one stroke further back on seven under after a second round 70.
Warren’s 64 was a full ten shots better than his opening round and propelled him to six under for the tournament, alongside the English duo of Andrew Butterfield and Denny Lucas, as well as Craig Williams of Wales.
There were many excellent performances throughout day two of the Cadillac Russian Open, but Widmark, who started his second round from the tenth tee, is the man to catch at the top of the leaderboard after a 67 that included seven birdies and two dropped shots.
The 29 year old has been in blistering form this season and currently lies sixth on the Challenge Tour Rankings with earnings of €57,990 following his victories at the Rui Tikida Hotels Morrocan Classic and the Texbond Open.
He said: “I got off to a good start today with birdies at the tenth and 11th and things went on nicely and then I hit into the water on the 15th but managed to birdie 17, 18, two, three and four which really got me going. I had a poor finish though by hitting bad approach shots into the last four holes which made me make bogey on the eighth but all in all a very good day.
“I do feel confident at the moment and I am enjoying the game. If you play good golf then it is all the more enjoyable. There’s nothing worse that to be on the golf course and you are playing badly and things don’t happen – that is the worst feeling. But if you do play well like I am now then there is no better feeling so I am excited.”
Seventy players made the halfway cut of level par.
