07 June 2021: Maverick Antcliff and Matthew Southgate will both be vying for a maiden European Tour title on Monday after taking a share of the lead after two rounds at the Porsche European Open. Ajeetesh Sandhu produced some crisp golf for the second day running, firing a 70 on a difficult course to move within three strokes of the leaders.
Sandhu shot four birdies in the second round. He is 2-under in T9 with Benjamin Poke. Mikko Korhonen and Thomas Detry are lying in T7 at 3-under 141. Edoardo Molinari, David Law, Scott Jamieson and Darius Van Driel are all bunched up at 4-under setting up an intriguing pursuit on Monday for honours.
Australia’s Antcliff carded a second round 68 at Green Eagle Golf Courses and was joined on five under par for the week when England’s Southgate completed a 69.
The pair sit one shot ahead of Dutchman Darius Van Driel, Italy’s Edoardo Molinari and Scottish pair Scott Jamieson and David Law.
Antcliff has dropped only one shot in 36 holes and enjoyed a fine finish, birdieing the 16th from eight feet, the 17th after almost holing his tee shot and the last after spinning his pitch back to five feet.
“I’m hitting fairways, greens, if you get a good number or angle take advantage of it,” Antcliff said.
“Keep doing the same. Good golf gets you into good positions, keep doing that, good results happen.”
Southgate had four birdies and two bogeys in his round and believes driving has been key to his impressive showing this week.
“I’ve driven it particularly well,” he said. “It’s a strength of my game. Every tee I’ve taken a couple of deep breaths and stick to the process of what I do every week.
“The fairways are narrow for everyone and I’ve thought for a while that I’m one of the best drivers of the ball in the world, so just trying to have positive thoughts, let it go, don’t steer it from the tee and it’s worked through 36 holes.
“There’s a lot of power players out here and when you play with guys who hit it 20-30 yards offline and they can get away with it it’s tough to compete.
“But when the rough is up and the bunkers are there and the fairways are narrow, I think it makes it a level playing field and your skill sets have got to stand up to the test.”
Former Ryder Cup star Molinari produced the round of the week with a stunning 65 that included seven birdies, two bogeys and a holed approach for eagle on the seventh.
Van Driel compiled a 69, with Jamieson posting 70 and Law 71, with overnight leader Thomas Detry dropping to a share of seventh after a 73.
