Crans-Sur-Sierre - Stephen Gallacher of Scotland shot a 6-under 65 on Friday to share a one-shot lead with Thomas Bjorn after the second round of the European Masters.
Bjorn, the 2011 champion from Denmark, shot a second straight 66 to sit level with Gallacher at 10-under 132 on a low-scoring day in the Swiss Alps sunshine.
Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain joined a five-way tie for third on 9 under, shooting a 68 that included five birdies in a six-hole homeward stretch.
Danny Willett was also in that group after shooting the day's best round of 64, including an eagle 3 at the par-5 first hole, five birdies and no dropped shots. His fellow Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Richard Finch, plus Victor Dubuisson of France, also trailed Gallacher and Bjorn by one shot.
Overnight leader Anirban Lahiri of India, Paul Casey of England and 23-year-old American Brooks Koepka were among five players on 8 under.
Lahiri followed his 63 with a level-par 71 that included a double bogey at the par-3 16th.
Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland fired a 65 to be 7 under, three shots off the lead.
Defending champion Richie Ramsay of Scotland missed the cut after a level-par 71 left him at 2 over. The cut was projected at 1 under.
Thirteen-year-old Chinese player Ye Wocheng improved on his opening 78 with a 76 Friday for a 12-over finish to his second European Tour event. The Swiss tournament is co-sanctioned with the Asian tour.
Leading second round scores at the EPGA European Masters on Friday (GBR or IRL unless noted, par-71):
132 - Stephen Gallacher 67 65, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 66 66
133 - Richard Finch 67 66, Tommy Fleetwood 65 68, Danny Willett 69 64, Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 68 65
134 - Paul Casey 65 69, Brooks Koepka (USA) 68 66, Mark Tullo (CHI) 68 66
135 - Richard Sterne (RSA) 69 66, Padraig Harrington 70 65
136 - Brett Rumford (AUS) 68 68, Craig Lee 71 65, Jaco Van Zyl (RSA) 68 68
137 - Maximilian Kieffer (GER) 68 69, David Howell 70 67, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 70 67, Gregory Havret (FRA) 68 69
138 - Jose-Maria Olazabal (ESP) 67 71, Kristoffer Broberg (SWE) 70 68, Paul Lawrie 68 70, Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 69 69
139 - Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA) 67 72, Scott Hend (AUS) 69 70, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 71 68, Shiv Kapur (IND) 70 69, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 68 71, Berry Henson (USA) 67 72
Bjorn, the 2011 champion from Denmark, shot a second straight 66 to sit level with Gallacher at 10-under 132 on a low-scoring day in the Swiss Alps sunshine.
Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain joined a five-way tie for third on 9 under, shooting a 68 that included five birdies in a six-hole homeward stretch.
Danny Willett was also in that group after shooting the day's best round of 64, including an eagle 3 at the par-5 first hole, five birdies and no dropped shots. His fellow Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Richard Finch, plus Victor Dubuisson of France, also trailed Gallacher and Bjorn by one shot.
Overnight leader Anirban Lahiri of India, Paul Casey of England and 23-year-old American Brooks Koepka were among five players on 8 under.
Lahiri followed his 63 with a level-par 71 that included a double bogey at the par-3 16th.
Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland fired a 65 to be 7 under, three shots off the lead.
Defending champion Richie Ramsay of Scotland missed the cut after a level-par 71 left him at 2 over. The cut was projected at 1 under.
Thirteen-year-old Chinese player Ye Wocheng improved on his opening 78 with a 76 Friday for a 12-over finish to his second European Tour event. The Swiss tournament is co-sanctioned with the Asian tour.
Leading second round scores at the EPGA European Masters on Friday (GBR or IRL unless noted, par-71):
132 - Stephen Gallacher 67 65, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 66 66
133 - Richard Finch 67 66, Tommy Fleetwood 65 68, Danny Willett 69 64, Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 68 65
134 - Paul Casey 65 69, Brooks Koepka (USA) 68 66, Mark Tullo (CHI) 68 66
135 - Richard Sterne (RSA) 69 66, Padraig Harrington 70 65
136 - Brett Rumford (AUS) 68 68, Craig Lee 71 65, Jaco Van Zyl (RSA) 68 68
137 - Maximilian Kieffer (GER) 68 69, David Howell 70 67, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 70 67, Gregory Havret (FRA) 68 69
138 - Jose-Maria Olazabal (ESP) 67 71, Kristoffer Broberg (SWE) 70 68, Paul Lawrie 68 70, Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 69 69
139 - Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA) 67 72, Scott Hend (AUS) 69 70, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 71 68, Shiv Kapur (IND) 70 69, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 68 71, Berry Henson (USA) 67 72