Alexander Noren rode a late hot streak to edge into a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Saab Wales Open.
The 28-year-old Swede birdied four birdies over his final five holes to card a second-successive 67 to reach the halfway stage on eight-under, just ahead of defending champion Graeme McDowell.
Noren made a poor start with a bogey at the par-four first, but he soon made amends by returning to par with a birdie at the par-four fourth, and then made the turn at one-under after picking up a shot at the par-five ninth. A bogey at par-three 10th returned Noren to par, but the world number 127 rallied late with birdies at the par-four 14th, 15th and 16th before closing out his round with another birdie at the par-five 18th.
Northern Irishman McDowell, ranked fifth in the world, is hot on Noren’s heels at seven-under after making five birdies and two bogeys in a three-under-par effort on Friday, while Jamie Donaldson leads the home contingent on six-under, alongside Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, thanks to a second successive round of 68.
Darren Clarke will head into the weekend despite shooting four bogeys and one double-bogey in a three-over par 74 that saw him slip back to even-par for the tournament, but at three-over Miguel Angel Jimenez is heading home early after following up his opening-round 73 with a second-round 72. The Spaniard made three bogeys and two double-bogeys as four birdies and an eagle on Friday were not enough to keep him at Celtic Manor.
Ryder Cup star Ross Fisher made an early exit at seven-over following a dismal eight-over par 79, which featured five bogeys and two double-bogeys, while his former skipper Colin Montgomerie followed him after 79 of his own that saw the veteran Scot plummet even further down the leaderboard to 15-over.
