Donaldson back on song to go two clear

Jamie Donaldson will take a twoshot lead into the third round of the Nordea Masters in Malmo as he looks to get his career firmly back on track with a fourth European Tour title.

Donaldson carded a second consecutive 69 at Barseback Golf and Country Club to reach eight under par, with Italy’s Renato Paratore his nearest challenger.

Englishmen Graeme Storm and Max Orrin and France’s Benjamin Hebert are a shot further back, with defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick on three under after carding birdies on the last three holes in his 70.

Open champion and Barseback member Henrik Stenson carded a 72 to lie seven shots off the pace alongside fellow Swede and BMW PGA Championship winner Alex Noren, who returned a 70.

Scott Jamieson is the leading Scot on two under after a 71, one shot ahead of Stephen Gallacher and Richie Ramsay.

Donaldson reached a career high of 23rd in the world in 2014, the year in which he secured the winning point as Europe defeated the United States at Gleneagles to win a third successive Ryder Cup.

The 41-year-old has struggled for form and fitness since winning the Thailand Championship in December 2015 and had missed the cut in five of his nine events in 2017.

However, the world No 256 carded five birdies and one bogey – his first of the week – to lead into the weekend.

Jamie Donaldson: has slipped to 256 in the world rankings.