Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg has a narrow lead in the halfway phase of the Dutch Open after a superb second round of 64 at Bernardus Golf.
Broberg recorded nine birdies and a lone bogey to set a new course record and a one-shot lead over Denmark’s Marcus Helligkilde and Belgium’s Thomas Detry.
Ireland’s Niall Kearney, who held the lead overnight after an opening 65, added a second round of 69 to put two shots of the pace at 10 under par, along with Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer.
“I played really well today,” said Broberg. I started with three straight birdies and then I hit a good shot at 13, the tough par three there, but I missed a short and then birdied 14.
“I hit some bad shots and some really good shots but my putter smokes hot, so I play good golf.
“I take it one shot at a time. I have struggled all year with injuries, so it’s nice to play well again.
“I was at home for a month so an optician saw for my right eye and they saw something, so I have a contact lens on my eye so now I can see the putts on the line. I roll it pretty well so happy with it. ”
Scotland’s David Drysdale fired five birds and an eagle to cover the top nine in just 29 shots en route to a 65 that left him in seven under with Ryder Cup vice-captain Graeme McDowell.
McDowell, who made seven birdies and a bogey in his 66, said: “It was a little better today, I improved the two areas I needed to get the ball in play from the tee and feel a little better on the green.
“After a couple of months on the couch, I am obviously very happy with many things I do. My swing and iron game feels especially good, and this is a key railroad.
The fairways are wide, if you get it into them you are faced with some tricky iron shots in these pin positions, so quite happy with it. I will need a couple of flames to win this weekend but it’s nice to have contact. ”