Ricardo Gonzalez and Lee Slattery, who got away from golf in very different places and in very different ways last week, are first and second at the halfway stage of the SAS Masters in Malmo.
Gonzalez, who after failing to qualify for The British Open returned to Argentina and worked on his farm all week, moved into the lead on 10-under-par after a second successive 68.
First round pacesetter Slattery, who went on picnics in the Lake District, is one behind after adding a 70 to his sparkling opening 67.
“I had to stop thinking about golf for a while,” said the 30-year-old from Southport, who has fallen to 136th place on the European money list and 504th in the world this season.
“Not only did I leave my clubs behind, I didn’t even take my phone.”
For the second day running the former Challenge Tour winner, yet to taste victory on the main circuit, was forced off the Barseback course by an approaching storm.
In the first round it rather took the wind out of his sails after he had raced to an outward 30, but this time it worked in his favour.
“It was getting really windy when we stopped, but it had died down as we went back out.”
Slattery finished with a superb 287-yard three-wood onto the green at the long ninth and two-putted for birdie.
Pre-tournament favourite Henrik Stenson, who is donating all his prize money to his new Foundation charity, was relieved not to leave empty-handed after a closing birdie removed the threat of missing the halfway cut.
Stenson is down on one over following a 74, but said: “At least I’m around for the weekend and hopefully I can put some gasoline on the fire now and really get going.
“I’ve got to attack even more. I didn’t use my driver until the last hole of the second round, but you’ll be seeing more of it tomorrow.”
Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane lead the Irish challenge in Sweden on two under after they both carded rounds of 71 on the par-73 layout.
A shot further back are the duo of Gareth Maybin (73) and Gary Murphy (74), while Michael Hoey looks to have done enough to make the cut after he finished on level par following a 74. Jonathan Caldwell could only manage a four-over 77 and is three shots away from the projected cut of one over.
