Syme makes cut – but six shots behind leader

Connor Syme put himself in a good position at the halfway stage to make it another big weekend on the European Tour yesterday.

The Drumoig player backed up his day one 68 at the Porsche European Open in Hamburg with a level par 72 to comfortably make the half-way cut on four under.

The lead is held by American Bryson DeChambeau who responded to a morning charge by Masters champion Patrick Reed with a second-round 68 to stay top of the leaderboard.

The 24-year-old saw his overnight one-stroke advantage at the Hamburg event turned into a narrow deficit by compatriot Reed who carded a 66 before lunch to leap to eight under.

But DeChambeau hit back with four birdies in his last six holes – having been level par through 12 holes after two birdies and two bogeys – to take him one clear of the field as he became the first man into double figures at 10 under.

Starting on the back nine Reed had three successive birdies from the 15th, meaning he has played the last four holes in six under par over the first two days.

He continued his run by picking up two more strokes in four holes after the turn before a short missed putt at the 475-yard sixth cost him his only dropped shot, but he bounced back with a further two birdies to sign for a 66.

However, by the end of the day eight under was good enough only for a share of fourth place for Reed with Frenchman Romain Wattel and Scot David Drysdale.

Essex’s Richard McAvoy produced the joint-best round of the week with six birdies, an eagle and just one bogey as he leaped into contention with a 65 which propelled him into a share of second place with Austrian Matthias Schwab.

Scott Jamieson is three-under after a 71 yesterday while Aberdonian Richie Ramsay carded a 69 to lie level par – the same score as Marc Warren who fired a second round 71.

Bryson DeChambeau leads at the halfway stage in Hamburg.