Home favourite Francesco Molinari carded a second round 67 to grab a share of the lead on nine-under par at the Italian Open golf on Friday.
The Turin-born 30-year-old, a winner of the event in 2006, heads into the third round on top of the leaderboard alongside Chile’s Felipe Aguilar and Simon Thornton of Ireland.
“I said at the beginning of the week I didn’t want to think of anything but try to enjoy the week, try to make some birdies and I’ll try to do the same Saturday and Sunday,” Molinari told www.europeantour.com.
“It doesn’t really matter that I won before, this is a special, special week for me.”
One shot off the leading trio is Molinari’s Ryder Cup team-mate Nicolas Colsaerts who bogeyed the 16th and 18th to return a 71, Ireland’s David Higgins and England’s Steve Webster
“It’s always tough to follow a day of prime striking,” said Colsaerts, who shot 65 on Thursday to share the lead overnight.
“I missed only one green yesterday and everything was going my way pretty much.
“Then I started with a bogey today with a seven iron in my hand so that doesn’t really get you in the greatest of moods.”
Australian Marcus Fraser, just one from the lead after a first-round 66, shot 71 on Friday to be two off the pace in a tie for seventh.
Former Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal, whose last European Tour win came in the Mallorca Classic eight years ago, is four off the lead on five under after adding a 68 to his opening 71 to lie five under par.