Jesper Svensson shot a 65 on Friday to move into a tie for the halftime lead at the Bahrain Championship with Dylan Frittelli and Joel Garback at nine under.
Despite the strong wind, Svensson shot 6 under through the first eight holes and finished with a 7-under 65, two strokes behind. This was his worst round of the day and his best round on the DP Tour.
“It was tough outside,” said Svensson, a Swede.
“I’ve been sick most of this week, so I’m hoping to get some rest and get my energy back.”
Frittelli birdied the final hole in dim light for a 68 and said he was hoping for tough conditions all weekend.
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“When I got out of bed this morning and looked out the window, it looked like there was a lot of wind blowing, so I wasn’t feeling too excited going into the round, but I knew that if I played well, I could move up the leaderboard. ‘And let’s get closer to the top,’ said the South African athlete.
“I want more wind. I like things that add an element of skill and experience,” he continued.
“I like the element of tricks and little things that randomly appear.”
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Gilbach fought back after a bad start, making two of six birdies on the final two holes and finishing with a 70.
“It was a terrible start with two bogeys in the wind,” he said. “It was a tough early morning, but I persevered and I’m happy with the way it turned out.”
The 30-year-old Swiss golfer became an official member of the tour for the first time.
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“The DP World Tour has been my goal for the past eight years, so now that I’m here I’m just enjoying it,” he said.
Spaniard Alejandro Del Rey is one stroke behind, Wales’ former Ryder Cup player Jamie Donaldson is another one behind, overnight leader Tom Vaillant, second place Frenchman Julien Guerrier and Australian Harrison. -Endicott tied with South Africa’s Ocky Streidham.
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