Aug 24, 2019: Former champion Matthew Fitzpatrick holds a two shot lead at the halfway stage of the Scandinavian Invitation but has home hero Henrik Stenson breathing down his neck after an afternoon of low scoring at Hills Golf & Sports Club.
Gaganjeet Bhullar of India shot three birdies and two bogeys to score one-under-69 in the second round and lying at T66.
Englishman Fitzpatrick and Gothenburg native Stenson treated the huge crowds following their group to a golfing masterclass on Friday, making the most of pleasant afternoon conditions to surge to the top section of the leaderboard.
Fitzpatrick, who won this event in 2016, holed a series of huge putts on the back nine as he carded six birdies and a single bogey in his second round 65 to head into the weekend on 11 under par with his lowest ever 36 hole total of 129.
Stenson, meanwhile, reeled off six birdies in a row around the turn before putting the finishing touches to his stunning 62 with a birdie to sit in a tie for second place alongside Wu Ashun on nine under, one shot clear of early clubhouse leaders Joakim Lagergren and Jason Scrivener.
The early risers found low scores hard to come by following persistent overnight rain and blustery morning conditions but the weather improved throughout the day and Fitzpatrick, Wu and Stenson were able to take full advantage.
Fitzpatrick made a quiet start to his round, opening up with a bogey before getting the shot back at the fourth to reach the turn in 36.
The Yorkshireman caught fire as he began the back nine, making a birdie at the short tenth before coolly slotting in from 30 feet for another at the 13th.
The 24-year-old made another enormous birdie putt from some 35 feet at the short 15th to take the outright lead on nine under.
And he kept his foot on the gas, sending his approach into the 16th to around three feet and tapping in to open up a two shot lead.
Fitzpatrick knocked in his close range putt at the 18th for a closing birdie to move to 11 under, and with Stenson also making a birdie at the last, Fitzpatrick stayed two strokes clear.
After his round, Fitzpatrick said: “It’s been great the past two days. Everything going to plan.
European Tour Release
