Swedes continue Russian love affair
by Richard Field, 25 July 2008
Swedes Jarmo Sandelin and Mikael Lundberg carded 64s to lead the Russian Open at halfway.
Sandelin – without a European Tour title for six years – blazed to a share of the lead, at 13-under, with nine birdies and a solitary bogey.
There was no stopping Sandelin who sank a 20-feet birdie putt, at the seventh, after seeing his approach shot hit the pin.
The former Ryder Cup player was again entertaining the crowd, when he just missed a hole in one at the next, and tapped in for another birdie.
The highlight of 2005 champion Lundberg’s round was an eagle-three at the second with eight birdies and two dropped shots also on his card.
Robert Rock, looking for his first Tour win, holed a 30-feet putt for an eagle at the fifth, and the Midlander signed for a 64 to trail the co-leaders by a stroke.
Fourth-placed Dane Jan-Are Larsen fired a 65, while Francois Delamontagne [67] and Ignacio Sanchez-Palencia [66] are three shots off the pace.
Danny Willett [66] threatened the lead at one stage, but a dropped shot at the 16th and, a double-bogey at the last, banished the Englishman into a group at nine-under-par.
Defending champion Per-Ulrik Johansson [68] moved up 17 places from his overnight position to a tie for 13th, at seven-under.
David Carter, who co-led after the opening round, struggled to a 73 and is now seven shots off the pace.
The Wild Thing, John Daly [73], missed the cut at two-under, by a stroke.
Russian amateur Alexey Kovalev finished his week's work at 40-over-par with a second round of 85 to put alongside his opening 99 at the Meridien course.