David Micheluzzi has continued his spectacular week at the Qatar Masters, following up his hole-in-one on the first day with a flawless second-round 66 that leaves him in the top-10 going into the business end of the European tour event.
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But like the rest of the field at Doha Golf Club, the Australian will have to chase down Patrick Reed, who is maintaining his brilliant run of form on the tour's Middle East swing by leading at halfway.
Melburnian Micheluzzi had enjoyed a dazzling start to the tournament on Thursday when he aced the 206-yard third hole on his way to a one-under 71, but he really hit form on Friday, recording four birdies before the turn and another couple on the home stretch.
It has shot him up into joint-10th place, but still with plenty of work to do as he sits five shots off former Masters champ Reed, who's setting the pace on 12 under.
Reed shot 67 to overhaul Joakim Lagergren's eventful round, during which the Swede and his caddie Jesse Karlsson found themselves on the second hole having to improvise by shifting a number of huge boulders so that he could manufacture a brilliant second shot on to the green before saving par.
That kick-started a bogey-free round of 66 from Lagergren, with his closing eagle taking him to 11 under par, just a shot behind Reed, who won the Dubai Desert Classic last month and lost a dramatic three-way play-off at the Bahrain Championship last weekend..
Reed birdied three of the last five holes to move to the top of the pile, while New Zealander Daniel Hillier and South African Richard Sterne were on 10 under, with Scotland's Ewen Ferguson, England's Matt Wallace and Spaniard Angel Ayora all on nine under in a share of fifth-place.
"Ball-striking wasn't quite as sharp as it was yesterday but I missed in the right spots today and because of that I was still able to get balls on greens," said Reed, who's targeting the European tour this year after leaving LIV Golf.
"Towards the end, the game started feeling pretty solid, and I'm looking forward to the weekend."
As well as Micheluzzi powering into the weekend in good shape, Jason Scrivener will be another Australian hoping to make his move on Saturday after shooting a four-under 68 that's left him at five under for the championship.
Ryan Peake also made it to the weekend, with his second round of 71 leaving him just above the cut line on two under.
Australian Associated Press
