AALBORG, Denmark (AP) — Wales’ Bradley Dredge topped the Made in Denmark leaderboard on Friday, with England’s Simon Wakefield in second and Dane Thomas Bjorn, who aims to secure a spot in Europe’s Ryder Cup team, tied in third.
Dredge holds a four-shot lead over Wakefield after a three-under-par 68 second round that saw him birdie four of his last six holes.
“I’m delighted with the way I played,” Dredge said. “I am looking forward to the weekend.”
Wakefield produced a fine round of 67, parring the opening five holes before catching fire to birdie the 15th, 16th and 17th. A dropped stroke on 18 ruined that run at the end of the day’s play.
Bjorn and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar both struggled for form, hitting 73 and 74, respectively.
Bjorn, who has 15 European Tour victories, began being atop of Friday’s event with Dredge before a lightning threat halted proceedings for an hour. He had started the second day with three bogeys, to finish five shots behind the leader.
Level with Bjorn is fellow Norwegian Thorbjorn Olesen, England’s Garrick Porteous and Scotland’s David Drysdale, with the latter two also shooting three-under-par.
“It was just not quite there. My wedges were poor, which is unlike me, and I didn’t really take advantage of those short holes,” he said. “One birdie all day isn’t really going to do it as you are going to make some birdies in these conditions.”
Bjorn hasn’t played in the Ryder Cup since 2002 but a victory in Aalborg will guarantee him a spot in the European team for the match against United States at Gleneagles next month.
This is the inaugural tournament, and the first time since 2003 that a European Tour event is being held in Denmark.
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