David Branshaw has taken the lead after the second round of the Viking Classic but Australians John Senden and Nick Flanagan are not far off the pace. After Briny Baird had stormed into the lead through a nine-under 63 on the first day, the second was a more subdued affair as Branshaw steadily worked his way up the leaderboard and took an outright lead through a birdie on his final hole. After posting a solid six-under 66 in round one, New York state native Branshaw posted a four-under 68 on the second day to be one-stroke ahead of Bill Haas and Cameron Beckman on 10-under overall. Haas had an impressive day himself on Friday carding five birdies in a flawless five-under 67 while Beckman could not quite follow up his first round 65 as he finished the day with a two-under 70, although a bogey on 17 did not help his cause. It certainly was not a good day for first round leader Baird, though. The American began where he left off on Thursday, slotting a birdie on the first hole after posting 10 birdies in round one. However, it all fell apart from then on for Baird as he could only manage seven bogeys from then on as he slumped to a six-over 78. For the Australian contingent, Senden and Flanagan have enjoyed almost identical rounds over the two days. Both players have carded respective 68s and 69s over the first two days to be just three strokes off the pace going into the third round. Those two are a long way ahead of the rest of the Australasians. Closest to them are a trio of players, Gavin Coles, Steve Elkington and Michael Sim, on one-under, while Matthew Goggin and Andrew buckle are a further stroke back at even par. Jarrod Lyle and Michael Gow did not make the cut, though, along with the New Zealand trio of Craig Perks, Phil Tataurangi and Grant Waite.