Noren in pole position
The 29-year-old, born in the Swedish capital, began the day in a share of first place with amateur Robert Karlsson and South African Jaco van Zyl.
But while his fellow co-leaders could not improve on their opening five-under-par 67s, Noren exceeded his.
He began with birdies at the first two holes and with three more coming between the sixth and ninth he reached the turn in 31.
After picking up another stroke at the 175-yard 11th he parred his way home to finish with a blemish-free 66.
His main challenger three shots back was India’s Shiv Kapur who matched Noren’s 66.
* Mark Calcavecchia remained at the top of the British Senior Open Championship leaderboard after carding a second-round 69 to move on to seven under par at Walton Heath in Surrey.
The American shared the lead overnight and remained in fine form from the off yesterday, picking up birdies on the first two holes.
Four more birdies followed during his round, but bogeys on the fifth, ninth and 16th meant he finished three under for the round, enough to keep the 1989 Open champion at the head of the field.
He was joined on seven under by compatriot Lee Rinker, who recorded a bogey-free round of 67 to move into contention, and Canadian Rod Spittle.
Calcavecchia’s fellow overnight leaders did not fare as well with Mark McNulty double-bogeying the 13th and dropping three shots on the 18th in a round of 76.
* Japan’s Miki Saiki holds a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Evian Masters after carding a second round five-under-par 67.
The 26-year-old sank six birdies with just a single bogey on the par-four 12th to move to nine under overall at the Evian Masters Golf Club.
* A bid to bring a professional golf tournament back to the North following the region’s stunning success in the world game has been backed with a financial commitment from the Stormont government.
The power-sharing Executive in Belfast has pledged to stump up funding to help Royal Portrush Golf Club secure an event.
It is envisaged that the famous links course could now stage the Irish Open within two years – a move that could pave the way for the British Open Championship itself returning there for only the second time in its history.
