Hennie snatched the solo lead late on, YouTube star Brad was surprising himself, Freddy produced a grandstand finish and Marco was happy to be in the hunt.
Here is everything you need to know from day two at Golfclub München Eichenried.
Du Plessis grabs halfway lead
Hennie du Plessis made a closing eagle late into the day to claim the halfway lead on his own at the BMW International Open and boost his bid for a maiden DP World Tour title. The South African held a share of the first-round lead after a flawless eight-under-par 64 but patience was all important in the early stages of his second round. It wasn't until the 11th that he made his first birdie of the day, before a strong finish saw him card a 69 to reach 11 under and hold a one-shot lead at Golfclub München Eichenried.
Victory this week would see the 29-year-old become the tenth first-time winner this season and he's excited by the challenge that lies ahead. "It's fun," he said. "I haven't been in contention since the Joburg Open and [Investec] SA Open, so it's been a good nine to ten weeks since that. I'm very excited to be in the mix. It's a pleasure to be in the mix on the DP World Tour, so I'm very happy and grateful."
Countryman Michael Hollick, Mexico's Carlos Ortiz and England's Jack Senior are his closest challengers in Germany.
Dalke delights legion of YouTube fans
Prior to this week, Brad Dalke last played in a world-ranked tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour six years ago. However, the American tournament invite, a junior prodigy golfer who was the U.S. Amateur runner-up in 2016 and made Major Championship appearances at the Masters Tournament and U.S. Open in 2017, is more than holding his own among heralded company. Across his opening 36 holes, he has mixed 11 birdies with two bogeys and sits just two adrift of leader Du Plessis. Last week, the 28-year-old announced his departure from Good Good, a successful YouTube channel with more than 2.1 million subscribers, due to personal reasons and conceded to surprising himself with his performance so far in Germany. “Obviously, I didn’t have a goal coming into this week," he said on Friday. "I just wanted to have some fun and enjoy it. And obviously, shooting 66 is pretty fun, so that helps the cause. Yesterday, that first tee shot, I was shaking like a leaf. Coming down the last few holes too... I try not to look at leaderboards, but it's hard not to miss them out there and I see my name up there for the first time. It’s very nervy, but I also love these moments. I love playing in front of big crowds and big opportunities. It's been fun."
Dean in Munich mix with last-chance Open shot on the horizon
Dean is putting the dissapointment of narrowly missing out on qualifying for this summer's Open Championship to one side in the knowledge another opportunity soon awaits him. The Englishman lost out in a three-man play-off at Final Qualifying on Tuesday, with countryman Matthew Jordan claiming the last of five spots on offer at West Lancashire. However, through the launch by The R&A of the Last-Chance Qualifier to be held on July 13, where spots are open to those who missed out in a play-off, Dean is in line to take his place in a 12-man field to compete to secure the final place at The 154th Open. The 32-year-old, a graduate of Qualifying School in 2023, formerly worked as a delivery driver for UK supermarket chain Morrisons and his hoping his experience of competing in one-day tournaments on mini-tours will serve him well. "I'm all for it," said Dean, who most recently played at The Open in 2024. "I would play one-day events all the time, so hopefully it stands me in good stead and I'm playing quite well. Final, final chance to get in, so we'll see. Fingers crossed."
Before then, however, the Englishman is just two adrift of the lead and will have his eyes set on claiming silverware.
Schott produces grandstand finish to make cut
Freddy Schott appeared set to miss out on weekend golf for the sixth DP World Tour event in a row when a double bogey at the par four 16th dropped him back to two under on Friday. After an important up-and-down for par at the par-three 17th, the German found a fairway bunker off the tee at the par five closing hole. With the projected cut fluctuating between three under and four under, a birdie was the least the 25-year-old required.
Such was the lip of the fairway bunker, on-course commentator Jay Townsend couldn't see how Schott could find both the length and accuracy to find the green with his second shot.
But Schott had other ideas, hitting his approach onto the green to leave a nine-foot eagle putt which he duly converted to the delight of the home crowds in the grandstand as he signed for a second consecutive 70 of the week.
Understandably, Schott was elated to have produced such a finish in his home event.....
Penge in the hunt on return to action
Marco Penge may have been ruing some rustiness with his driving after a second-round 69 left him at seven under but the Englishman was just pleased to be in the mix on his competitive return after more than a month and a half spent prioritising his recovery from health issues. "My goal coming here was if I made the cut that was a win, with how things have been the last six or seven weeks and not getting in much preparation for this week," said last season's three-time DP World Tour winner. "It's learning on the job these last couple of days. Really pleased to be in the position that I'm in. Hopefully I can sharpen up a little bit and hopefully Sunday could be entertaining."
