10 birdies hand Sullivan share of lead

VILAMOURA: Defending champion Andy Sullivan carded 10 birdies to take a share of the lead after two rounds of the Portugal Masters on Friday, firing a season-low 61.

The Englishman won the event last season by a record nine shots with a 23 under par total and his round on Friday took his bogey-free run at the Vilamoura venue to 56 holes.

Overnight leader Marc Warren added a 65 to his opening 63 to also get to 14 under and a share of the lead.

“I knew I needed to go low to get a beat on the leaders,” said Sullivan.

“So to go out there and shoot that score is absolutely fantastic. I had thoughts of 59 coming down the stretch there, but it wasn’t to be. It’s fantastic being on top of the leaderboard and giving myself a chance going into the weekend.”

The 14-under-par total of 128 for Sullivan and Warren was the lowest 36-hole score this season achieved without preferred lies.

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, without a win since his US PGA Championship triumph in 2008, fired a 63 to sit alongside Jens Fahrbring at 13 under in second place. AFP