Newcomer Angel Ayora hits 65 to snatch lead at Italian Open halfway mark

The 20-year-old made a series of stunning par saves in the opening eight holes of his second round before picking up his first birdie of the day from close range at the ninth.

And he kept the momentum going, birdieing the tenth, 11th and 12th to make it four in a row and grab a share of the lead.

HotelPlanner Tour graduate Ayora gave himself a golden opportunity to hit the front on his own with a spectacular approach into the 16th but could not convert the birdie putt from inside four feet.

He made no mistake from similar range on the 18th, though, to reach nine under par, a total no one else could match.

The Spaniard sits one clear of first-round leader Dan Bradbury, Martin Couvra, Andreas Halvorsen and Marcel Schneider in a tie for second on eight under.

He said: "I started today very badly. From the tee I was struggling with my swing, but there were some very good recoveries and I was putting very good, so thank you to my short game.

"On the back nine I was trying to find a swing thought or something to recover from the front nine. I think I found it and I hope to do it tomorrow as well.

"I try to be patient. It’s difficult to do it on the course when things aren’t going very well, but you need to do it.

"If you start thinking about the past, the bad strokes, it’s not the way to do it. I try to do my best and to finish with a birdie is always a great thing."

Afternoon starter Schneider had a good chance to catch Ayora at the summit late in the day but could not convert his four-foot birdie putt at the last. His second straight 66 left him bogey-free at the midway point.

France's Couvra, meanwhile, matched the course record of 63 set earlier in the day by Rafa Cabrera Bello thanks to eight birdies and one bogey.