Despite further morning rain in Ascona, the second round of the Credit Suisse Private Banking Open was duly completed at the Patriziale club with Lee James maintaining his overnight lead.
He is still two clear of his nearest challengers, South African Ashley Roestoff, the Tusker Kenya Open champion, carding a 69 to move into joint second place on 134 alongside Pascal Edmond of France, who completed his second round yesterday.
Scotland’s Lorne Kelly moved up to joint fourth on 135 after a seven-birdie 66, while Sweden’s Marten Olander went one better with 65 to join a large group in equal eighth place on 136.
The halfway cut came at two-under-par 140 with 54 players surviving for the final two rounds.
Missing out were England’s Andrew Sherborne, winner in Italy last week and current No.1 on the rankings and third ranked Mark Foster, the winner in Zambia earlier in the season.