Dutchman Joost Luiten holds a one-shot lead at the halfway point of the Lyoness Open in Atzenbrugg. Luiten carded a four-under 68 on Friday, giving him an overall score of 11 under, which was enough to hit the front at the Diamond Country Club. England&aposs Paul Waring, Scotland&aposs Callum Macaulay and Spain&aposs Eduardo De La Riva are all tied for second at 10 under. Luiten – who has only won one European Tour title – said he was pleased with his efforts on day two. “It was good. I hit some nice shots in close for birdie. I didn&apost make as many putts as yesterday but I&aposm really happy with the score,” Luiten said. “On this course you know you&aposre going to make a few bogeys but there are a lot of chances for birdie as well. You just have to try to stay patient and I think I did that well today.” Luiten started his day with three birdies from his first seven holes, and he added a further three in addition to two bogeys on the back nine. Of the group at 10 under, De La Riva was the most impressive as he shot a seven-under 65. De La Riva bogeyed the second hole before scoring birdies in five of his next seven attempts. His joy did not stop there, as an eagle on the 10th was followed immediately by a birdie. But just when he was dreaming of topping Englishman Tom Lewis&apos 63 on the opening day, De La Riva dropped off. However, he avoided any late blemishes to be in strong contention. Macaulay fired a round of 66, while Waring hit a 67, to keep them within a shot of overall leader Luiten. South African Hennie Otto and Frenchman Romain Wattel are tied for fifth at eight under, with Otto carding 10 birdies in his seven-under 65 on Friday. Overnight leader Lewis is one of five players tied for seventh, with compatriot Matthew Baldwin, Spanish pair Jorge Campillo and Miguel Angel Jimenez and Scotsman David Drysdale also all on seven under after two rounds. Lewis hit five bogeys in a two-over 74, while Drysdale shot an impressive round of 66. Defending champion, Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, shot a one-under 71 and is on five under – tied for 17th. At the other end of the leaderboard, Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal missed the cut set at par after finishing at three over. Australian Richard Green (seven over) and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara (nine over) were other notable players to miss the cut.
Author: Omnisport