Scotland’s Peter Whiteford fired his second consecutive round of six-under 66, and will take a one shot lead into the weekend over first round co-leader Thorbjørn Olesen at the ISPS Handa Perth International.
Whiteford, who is looking for his first European Tour win, took the lead thank to his second eagle in as many days at the par-5 seventh hole. Only this time, he started on the back-nine, meaning the seventh hole was his 16th hole of the day, and the one that proved decisive on him taking the halfway lead at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.
His bogey-free round was off to a good start after he birdied his second hole, the par-5 11th, but he parred the rest of his first nine to make the turn at one-under for the day. But he really turned up the head on his final nine, with a birdie on the Hole No. 1, 3 and 4, to get to four-under for the day, and at the time just one behind Olesen.
A couple of pars setup his big eagle putt after reaching the green in two at the massive 612-yards, par-5 seventh that catapulted him into the lead, one shot ahead of Olesen. He would close up with a couple of pars to remain on top.
Whiteford has played the front-nine on the first two days in remarkable fashion. He is a bogey-free 10-under so far, and has birdied holes No. 1 and 3 both days, besides the two eagles on the seventh.
A big finish is required from him, with this event being the last one on tour before the Final Series begins. In 29 events this season, Whiteford has missed the cut 19 times. He needs to finish in second place or better this week in order to keep his tour card.
Olesen, along with Australian John Wade, both carded a course-record eight-under 64 on Thursday and shared the lead after one round. The Dane couldn’t replicate his previous round’s success, but fired a solid round of three-under 69 and is in sole possession of second place at 11-under.
South Korea’s Shawn Kim, shot 66 on Thursday and started the day in a four-way tie for third with Whiteford, England’s Tom Lewis and Australian Michael Sim. He carded a four-under 68 on Friday and is now in solo third at 10-under, two shots back.
Olesen and Wade’s course record lasted only one day. Englishman James Morrison set a new course record after firing a bogey-free nine-under 63 on Friday. He hit an even-par 72 on Thursday, finishing with a double bogey on the par 4 18th hole. But he quickly put that behind him on Friday, with birdies on the 11th hole (his second) and then picked up shots on three consecutive holes (15-17).
He also remained without a bogey on his back nine, and picked up another five shots with birdies on the third, and then fifth through eight holes to achieve the feat. Morrison has already secured his card for next year, but a finish of second place or better will get him in the Final Series. Morrison is tied for fourth at nine-under Scotland's David Drysdale (68).
Wade (72) and fellow countryman Richard Green (68) are tied for sixth-place at eight-under. Charl Schwartzel is in solo eighth at seven-under after shooting a three-under 69. He is followed one-shot back in a tie for ninth-place by Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (67) and Australians Marcus Fraser (70) and James Nitties (69).
American Jason Dufner, making his first start since withdrawing from the PGA Championship with a neck injury, shot his second straight 70 and is tied for 18th at four-under.
Notable names missing the cut-line of one-under 143 wereGeoff Ogilvy (72, one-over), Oliver Fisher (74, one-over), Raphaël Jacquelin (75, one-over), Edoardo Molinari (76, two-over) and defending champion Jin Jeong (75, three-over).