Marcel Schneider remains the man to catch at the halfway stage of the Austrian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand after posting a flawless 66 on Friday to keep his two-shot lead.
The German started the day two clear of the chasing pack after Thursday’s opening 63 and made a patient start to the second round early in the morning, opening with seven straight pars before picking up back-to-back birdies on the 8th and 9th to turn in 33.
And Schneider made further gains on the 14th and 18th to set the clubhouse target at 11 under par.
None of the later starters were able to catch the 35-year-old at the top, with countryman Nicolai von Dellingshausen his nearest challenger on nine under par.
England’s Callum Tarren was alone in third another shot further back after carding seven birdies and no bogeys in his 63.
New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier finished with an eagle on the 18th to sit alongside South African Jayden Schaper on seven under.
Schneider got his first birdie of the day courtesy of a 22-foot putt at the 8th before holing from long range from just off the 9th green for a second successive gain.
A confidence-boosting par save from around six feet followed on the 10th before Schneider picked up his next birdie with a 20-footer on the par-three 14th.
Schneider finished off his round with a close-range birdie on the 18th to remain on course for a maiden win at this level.
“My plan was to continue what I did yesterday, and that worked out well,” he said.
“I have to say, off the tee I wasn’t as strong as yesterday. But I managed well on the holes where I missed the fairways to come out with par, so I didn’t drop a shot. Overall, super happy.
“Even struggling a bit off the tee, I was never in big trouble. But out of the semi-rough you could easily miss a green and not make up and down. I’m happy with the short game and shots into the green.
“It’s great having the support. Playing close to home is always nice. I love being in Austria as well. I like that.”
– Edited report from DP World Tour website
Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images
