Omega European Masters: Scotland's Richie Ramsay holds one-shot lead at halfway point

Richie Ramsay has opened a one-shot lead at the halfway point of the Omega European Masters after a second round of 66 at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Ramsay held the overnight lead with Edoardo Molinari after the pair posted opening 62s, but while the Italian could only manage a level-par 70 on Friday, the Scot went four strokes better to lead the field on 12-under-par.

Jamie Donaldson - who won the Czech Masters on his last outing - kept his bid for back-to-back victories on track as he shot a 64 to sit one behind Ramsay after 36 holes.

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England's Graeme Storm and Brooks Koepka of the United States shared third spot on 10-under, while another American, David Lipsky, was just one stroke further back in joint-fifth with Irishmen Shane Lowry and Gareth Maybin.

Ramsay, who mixed five birdies and a bogey, vowed to maintain a relaxed attitude as he looks to win the tournament for the second time in three years this weekend.

"It was a little bit tougher today," Ramsay told Sky Sports. "I thought some of the pins were trickier on the back side and a little bit of rain made the temperature go up and down which makes clubbing difficult.

"But I stayed steady, had a good attitude again and picked up a few shots coming in which was nice, so all in all a good day's work."

Ramsay, who was joint fourth in the Italian Open on Sunday, added: "I have to go with the attitude that I am up there at the top so why not enjoy it? There's nothing to lose.

Good attitude

"If I do that I will have a really good attitude and just go out there, try to enjoy it and pick off a few birdies."

Donaldson made seven birdies in his joint best-of-the-day 64, including one at the last after a stunning approach which finished inches from the cup.

"I played well again today, especially on the front nine," stated the Welshman who is set for a Ryder Cup debut at Gleneagles laster in the month.

"I probably could've gone one or two shots lower today, but as golfers we always say that. We're never happy. Overall, I've got to be very happy with the way I played and the position I'm in.

"There are birdies to be had, but you have to play really aggressively and then you run the risk of getting yourself into trouble. It's a very fair course, but it's also a real test in places so you have to stay patient and not go too gung ho."

Donaldson's Ryder Cup team-mate player Victor Dubuisson was four shots off the pace after recovering from a double bogey on the 12th, his third hole, to return a 67.

"I'm very, very excited to be part of this amazing team," Dubuisson said. "It's been very hard to qualify this year. I had to have two top 10s in the last two majors to be safe (ninth in the Open and seventh in the US PGA).

"I have a good relationship with all the players so I will just have to manage the pressure because it's my first Ryder Cup and I know it's not easy to play your game. Sometimes you want to play a little more safe and then you lose your natural game."