Joaquin Niemann opens two-shot lead after another superb 63 in Italy

The Chilean followed up his opening 64 with a 63 to reach 15 under par at Circolo Golf Torino.

Angel Ayora also shot 63 to lie second on 13 under while Niemann's playing partner Matt Wallace went one better with a 62 to advance to 11 under.

Niemann started with six pars from the tenth before his round sparked into life, with three straight birdies into the turn followed by an eagle after a perfect approach at the first.

Further birdies at the fourth, seventh and ninth left him with a 63, one better than his first round, and would have equalled the course record - set by Edoardo Molinari on Thursday - but for Wallace's efforts.

Niemann said: "I knew going out in the morning early, with good greens, I needed to go kind of low in the beginning and put a score on.

"It was a little bit of a slower start than yesterday and then I got it going on hole 15, I think it was. Then I made a nice eagle also on the first. That helped me out to get that momentum and kind of take off a little bit.

"I hit great shots. I hit a lot of fairways at the beginning of the round, hit good iron shots, had a few lip out. I feel like I could have made two or three putts there but the ball just didn't go in like it did on the rest of the holes.

"It's a fun course. When you're in the fairway, you're able to score pretty low because the greens are pretty soft. If you are good with your numbers, with the irons, you can go at every pin and you're pretty sure it's going to stay close to the hole. It's fun. A lot of birdies.

"Matt, today, played amazing golf as well. Yeah, it was fun."

Niemann and Wallace combined for a better-ball 58 and the latter was equally quick to praise his partner, saying: "A little word to him; man, he's good. He played as good today as he did yesterday, and he didn't start how he did yesterday.

"He's a class act. I think if you beat him by one this week, you win the tournament."

Ayora will hope to have something to say about that after seven birdies and an eagle helped him split the difference between the high-flying pair.

The 21-year-old followed up his opening 66 in even more impressive style and said: “Today - as yesterday, but today even better - I played so good, unbelievably good. My putting is working pretty decent also, so I'm very happy.”