Matt Wallace carded a brilliant 62 to open up a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland.
The 34-year-old Englishman, who came into the week as one of the favourites, moved out of a four-way tie for third following an opening 64 to give himself a healthy cushion on 14 under par heading into the weekend.
He moved clear of overnight joint leader Alex Fitzpatrick, who followed up his 63 with a battling 67, which was spoiled by his only bogey of the day at the par-three 16th.
But that was good enough to keep him in second ahead of a third Englishman in Jordan Smith, who shot a 65.
Waterford man Gary Hurley comfortably made the cut after a level-par 70 left him on two under and in a share of 46th.
His eventful round featured four birdies and four bogeys.
Leaderboard
Wallace, whose last win on the Europe-based tour came almost six years to the week, is the only player bogey-free this week – a record helped by chip-in birdies at the fourth and fifth which sparked his round into life.
He picked up three more shots to turn in 30 and although the scoring slowed on the back nine, a burst of three birdies in three holes from the 14th was enough to propel him clear of his rivals.
Wallace he said he was concentrating on consistency rather than winning tournaments as he has a longer-term view of making next year’s Ryder Cup team, having missed out on selection despite going close in 2018 and 2023.
"It’s not just about the win, it’s playing well," said Wallace, who turned down an early approach from LIV Golf in 2022.
"Luke (Donald, Ryder Cup captain) wants you to play well and I want to play well so I’m going to try to play well every single day and what comes from it comes from it.
"It is good, competition, but I want to get away from the competition as much as possible."
It was a different story for Fitzpatrick’s brother Matt, however, as he tumbled down the leaderboard from three off the lead to sneak into the weekend right on the one-under cut line after a scruffy 73.
The former US Open winner, who is seeking to join the late Seve Ballesteros as a three-time champion at this venue, looked out of sorts and his round was littered with as many audible expletives as bogeys (five).
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