Sebastian Söderberg continued his fine form at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed firing a round of 66 (-6) to lead on 15-under-par.
The DP World Tour winner led overnight after carding an excellent nine-under 63 on the first day at Vasatorps Golfklubb.
It was a good start to day two for the Swede, who began with back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11.
Söderberg made further birdies on the second and fifth before rolling in an 18-foot eagle putt on the sixth to stretch his advantage at the top of the leaderboard.
“It was quite different to yesterday,” said the 33-year-old. “I had a stretch in the middle for eight or nine holes where it felt like I was saving par on every hole. But I played really well the last seven or eight holes.
“I was hitting a lot of loose drives and missing the greens. I didn’t give myself a lot of opportunities. But I started hitting the driver well again on the back nine, that was nice. The putting was still solid. The short game, getting up and down on these greens (was key).
“I felt like it was a lot more gettable today. The wind definitely dropped, and we only had one hole of rain. It was playing a little bit easier, but you still have to hit some solid shots to get close to some of the pins.”
Three shots behind Söderberg on 12-under-par is Scotland’s Scott Jamieson, who produced a round of 65 (-7).
The Scott moved himself into second place at the halfway stage with eight birdies and one bogey on his scorecard.
“I was aware (Söderberg) got to 15 under,” said Jamieson. “I saw the scoreboard when I was walking to the first tee, so he’s obviously had two great days. It was nice to step up and post a low one.
“Again, my irons were really good. Think I only missed one green, unfortunately that was my very last hole. I just holed a few more putts than I did yesterday. I gave myself just as many opportunities and snuck a couple more in.
“The way the wind has been, there’s certainly been a lot of crosswinds, so it makes it difficult. That makes striking your irons so important. If you get that wrong, you’re really wrong. It’s really nice to feel like I’m on top of that for now, I hope it continues.”
France’s Julien Guerrier is one shot further back on 11-under-par after firing a 64 (-8) which included an eagle and six birdies on Friday in Sweden.
“My putting was really good,” said the Frenchman. “I think I holed 50 or 60 per cent between four and six metres, that was key because I had ten opportunities between four and six metres. It was perfect.
“This weekend there will be a lot of rain, which isn’t very pleasant, but we have to play in it. Today we were lucky because the conditions were really good, apart from the first and second hole. But without that, it was very calm, yesterday it was more windy.
“Since the beginning of the year, I’ve played very consistent and very good, but I haven’t scored. Today, I didn’t play that good, but I scored really well. This game is very crazy. I accept that, I’ll take that, of course and I’ll try to focus on the process.”
2022 champion Linn Grant is one of four players in a share of fourth place on nine-under-par after carding a round of 68 (-4).
The five-time LET winner made a birdie on the third but then made three bogeys on the spin on holes five, six and seven.
Grant bounced back with three birdies on the trot on the eighth, ninth and tenth before making further birdies on 12, 16 and 18 to sit six shots behind leader Söderberg.
The 2022 Race to Costa del Sol champion explained: “It was an up and down day, but I managed to collect myself after those three bogeys and just see the positives and I said to Jonathan if we can make five birdies going in, it would still be a good day.
“[On the bogeys] It was a combination of some so and so shots and the weather. We were going on and off with the rain jackets. I didn’t really get into the game, so it was a mix of that and from there on I felt like I could only do better.
“Coming off yesterday, I said that every hole out here feels like a birdie opportunity and when you know that you just have to shake those bogeys off and say stop now because we don’t want to go any further with this. Just try to switch my mindset onto not being scared of making bogeys and being more aggressive.”
Grant sits alongside fellow Swedes Jesper Svensson and Jens Dantorp, as well as Spain’s Jorge Campillo in T4.
Four players are in a share of eighth place with Sweden’s Alexander Björk, England’s Alex Fitzpatrick, Scotland’s Calum Hill and South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli all on eight-under.
Sweden’s Ellinor Südow had a highlight on day two making a hole-in-one at the par-3 14th at her home club.
The cut fell at -2 with 70 players making it through to the weekend which includes 26 female golfers.
Round three will begin at 7.10 am (local time) with the leaders going out at 1.10 pm (local time) at Vasatorps Golfklubb.
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