South Africa's Thriston Lawrence closing on on historic win at Omega European Masters

On another day of favourable scoring conditions, the defending champion carded seven birdies in a flawless 63 on Friday to reach 13 under and remain bogey-free through his opening 36 holes at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

Spain's Nacho Elvira, runner-up last week at The Belfry, shot the low round of the week so far with a 62 to join Germany's Jeremy Paul, making his debut in Crans-Montana, as his closest challengers, with Keita Nakajima a shot further back at ten under.

Lawrence, who first won the title in 2022, could join Ballesteros as just the second player to claim a hat-trick of wins in Crans-Montana since the tournament became a DP World Tour event in 1972, while he would become the sixth in its 103-year history.

Appearing at home in the altitude of the Valais fairways, the five-time DP World Tour winner began his second round among the morning wave off the tenth tee and picked up his first shot of the day at the par three 13th.

While Lawrence was unable to capitalise on either the scoreable par five 14th or 15th, he quickly put that disappointment out of his mind as he made a run of six consecutive birdies either side of the two nines.

But just like in the first round when he did well to save par at the 14th on Thursday, he was indebted to a chip-in par from a greenside bunker at the fifth to avoid a first dropped shot of the week before he safely parred his way home.

"To be honest, I've played well all year," he said.

"I've just been so unfortunate so many times, missing the cut by one shot four or five times.

"I feel like I've been playing well, but mentally, I'm in a much better space. Obviously, seeing birdies and seeing putts go in, I feel like you gain confidence from that.

"Coming back to a place I love is just extra confidence."

Rafa Cabrera-Bello was in a group of players at nine under, having used a makeshift set of clubs including irons used by Adam Scott over the opening two days, alongside Paul Casey and Wu.

The cut fell at three under with Danish pair Nicolai Højgaard and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen among the notables who will miss the weekend's action.