BLISS FOR BURMESTER AS HE TOPS EURO PILE

Dean Burmester will take a narrow lead into the weekend at the Omega European Masters but he has a high-quality chasing pack containing England’s Andy Sullivan and Belgian Olympian Thomas Detry breathing down his neck.

Burmester followed up Thursday’s 64 with a bogey-free 65, carding five birdies to move to 11 under par.

That leaves him a single stroke clear of Sullivan and Detry, with Renato Paratore another shot further back.

First-round leader James Morrison, who set a new course record with his sensational opening-round 60, had stretched his lead to four strokes with two birdies on the front nine but dropped five shots in four holes from the 10th and had to settle for a 74 which leaves him five shots off the pace.

Burmester told Sky Sports: “I’ve played well both days, today I was just solid.

“I didn’t get off to the best of starts but I holed a nice 10-footer at the first for par and you need those momentum ones. That kind of just set the tone for the day.

“I putted beautifully again today. The greens are a little trickier this afternoon. I think it’ll be more of the same on the weekend.”

Veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, 57, is four under after a second-round 67 which contained a stunning eagle at the seventh.

Top Scot is Scott Jamieson who carded a second successive 67 to be five shots off the lead on six under.

Calum Hill is two shots further back after a second round 70 while a two over 72 sees Richie Ramsay on one over par.

Grant Forrest is two over, David Drysdale five over and Stephen Gallacher six over.