Spanish duo Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal share the lead at nine under after the second round of the Dutch Open, while Australian pair Richard Green and Robert Allenby are five shots off the pace. Jimenez started Friday with a one-shot advantage and went round in a three-under 67 on a rain-sodden day two that included back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth, a feat he also achieved 24 hours previously. Larrazabal, runner-up to last year&aposs champion Peter Hanson, moved up one place to join his fellow countryman at the top of the leaderboard. Bogeys at the eighth and 16th, however, will frustrate the player ranked 120th in the world, who nevertheless birdied six holes to stake his claim for the title at the halfway point. Englishman Simon Dyson – the 2006, 2009 and 2011 Dutch Open winner – is one of three players a shot behind Jimenez and Larrazabal on eight under after he matched the course record of 63 held by himself. Helped by seven birdies, Dyson surged into contention following a 69 on day one. Julien Quesne and Oliver Fisher are also on eight under, with David Drysdale a further shot adrift. Green fired five birdies on his way to a round of 66 to move into a tie for 20th at four under alongside Allenby, who recovered from an opening-hole double-bogey to register a one-over par 71. Jimenez finished fifth at last weekend&aposs European Masters in Switzerland and is hoping that the Kennemer Golf and Country Club will be the setting for his 20th European Tour title after an impressive first two days, having won the tournament back in 1994. The 49-year-old said: “I feel very comfortable with my game. “I didn&apost manage to get the win in Switzerland last week, but maybe this week it will be my turn. I hope so. “I&aposm happy. I&aposm hitting the ball as good as ever. I don&apost know how many putts I missed (on Friday) on that back nine, but I&aposm on top of the leaderboard at the moment, so I am very happy with my game.”
Author: Omnisport