By European Tour media

Søren Kjeldsen and Thorbjørn Olesen combined for a sensational 60 to fire Denmark to the top of the leaderboard on day two of the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf.

Just six teams fired under par in the first-round foursomes and despite increased winds at Kingston Heath Golf Club, all 28 teams managed that feat in the fourballs.

Meanwhile, Aussies Marc Leishman and Adam Scott improved on their disappointing opening 74 to card a four-under 68 in Friday’s best-ball format. They sit two under and a distant 10 shots adrift of the Danes.

The Danes were the best of those and they turned a three-shot first-round deficit into a three-shot second-round lead thanks to two eagles and eight birdies in a brilliant bogey-free effort.

That got them to 12 under as they went in search of a first ever World Cup title, with second-placed China also looking to lift the trophy for the first time.

Ashun Wu and Li Haotong have both won on the European Tour this season and the duo were in a good position to finish their campaign in perfect style after a second-round 65.

Overnight leaders Rafa Cabrera Bello and Jon Rahm of Spain were then at eight over as European Tour Members continued to dominate the upper echelons of the leaderboard, with Chris Wood and Andy Sullivan of England, Italian pair Francesco Molinari and Matteo Manassero, Frenchmen Victor Dubuisson and Romain Langasque, and Americans Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker a further shot back.

Kjeldsen holed out from the fairway on the third for an eagle before a birdie followed and Olesen put a stunning approach to tap-in range on the fifth. Olesen then chipped in on the eighth for a second eagle of the day as Denmark turned in 29.

A run of five birdies followed after the turn with the Turkish Airlines Open champion holing from 20 feet and then putting an approach to close-range before Kjeldsen holed from 15 feet on the 12th.

Two more Olesen birdies followed from inside ten feet and Kjeldsen put his approach into the last close to complete a stunning round of golf.

The record in the World Cup of Golf for fourballs is 57 but 59 will always be a special number, and Olesen admitted it was in his mind coming down the stretch.

“To be honest, I was thinking a little bit about that 59 with the last two holes to go but 60 was a great score,” said Olesen.

“Søren got it going with holing that second shot and then I chipped in for eagle also. Combined we were very good.

“I felt like yesterday we did a great job in the foursomes. It’s a tricky course, especially when it blows this much. We did well yesterday and that’s what we have to do again.”

“I was trying to play solid,” added Kjeldsen. “Thorbjørn was playing exceptional so I thought if I get it in play and get it on the green, let him do all the fireworks and it worked pretty well.

“We’re trying to make everybody proud. It’s just a treat to be here.”

China were bogey-free in their round with two lengthy putts on the second and third getting them going and a stunning approach to tap-in range from Li on the 11th the highlight.

England were bogey-free in their 66 while Italy recorded a single bogey but saw Molinari chip in on the eighth for a stunning eagle as they also took 66 blows.

France had seven birdies – including five in a row from the eighth – in their 67 with the United States bogey-free while signing for the same score.

Japan and Sweden were then at six under, a shot clear of the Netherlands, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.
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