Publications
Partners
Stockholm - England's Matthew Fitzpatrick will go into the weekend with the lead at the Nordea Masters in Stockholm after a second-round 65 put him three strokes clear of the chasing pack on Friday.
Fitzpatrick, who finished tied seventh at the Masters in Augusta in April, followed an opening round of 68 with a 65 on the par-72 course at the Bro Hof Slott course in the Swedish capital.
The 21-year-old's round featured seven birdies and not a single dropped shot as he opened up a lead of three strokes from a group of five players including Belgian former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts.
"Any time you shoot seven birdies it's always a good day, and when you manage to keep the bogeys off the card at the same time, it's an even better day," said Fitzpatrick, a former US Amateur champion who only decided at the last minute to enter the tournament.
"Any time you go into the weekend high on the leaderboard, you're going to get excited."
Colsaerts will go out with Fitzpatrick in the third round after a 66 on Friday which included an eagle three at the first and five birdies.
He is on eight under par along with English duo Ross Fisher and Andrew Johnston, Scotland's Scott Henry and Sweden's Alexander Bjork.
It was past 20:30 local time when Bjork finished his round but he could be very happy with his work in just his second European Tour event, recording five birdies and a single bogey.
Leading scores from the second round of the Nordea Masters in Stockholm on Friday (GBR and IRL unless stated; par 72):
133 - Matthew Fitzpatrick 68-65
136 - Andrew Johnston 67-69, Ross Fisher 68-68, Alexander Bjork (SWE) 68-68, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 70-66, Scott Henry 67-69
137 - Thomas Linard (FRA) 69-68
138 - Matt Wallace 68-70, Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 68-70, Jean Hugo (RSA) 71-67, Florian Fritsch (GER) 67-71
139 - Alex Noren (SWE) 69-70, Romain Wattel (FRA) 70-69, David Dixon 70-69, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 72-67, Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 70-69, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 70-69, Lee Westwood 68-71
140 - Sebastien Gros (FRA) 67-73, Marc Warren 67-73, Richard Green (AUS) 69-71, Tyrrell Hatton 71-69, Clement Berardo (FRA) 67-73, Michael Hoey 69-71, Soomin Lee (KOR) 70-70
