Hideto Tanihara will take the lead into the weekend for the first time in his European Tour career after firing a bogey-free 66 on day two of the Omega European Masters.
The Japanese moved to nine under in the morning at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club and nobody could reel him in, although he had a high-class chasing pack breathing down his neck.
Defending champion Matthew Fitzpatrick matched the lowest round of the week with a 64 to sit at seven under alongside Dane Lucas Bjerregaard and American Doug Ghim.
The group in fifth then combined for ten European Tour titles including a Major Championship with Scot Stephen Gallacher, Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera, South African Haydn Porteous and England’s Danny Willett at six under.
Porteous birdied four of the five holes before the turn to get things moving in the right direction.
Thomas Aiken’s 67 helped him to move steadily into the weekend in the group one shot behind those matching Porteous’ tally.
Countrymen Erik van Rooyen and Justin Walters are in the group at -3.
