VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — Matthew Baldwin was setting an unexpectedly hot pace at the BMW PGA Championship after shooting 6-under 66 to establish a three-stroke clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the European tour’s flagship event on Friday.
Baldwin, an Englishman ranked No. 363, built on his overnight one-shot lead after a first-round 65 by making seven birdies to go along with a dropped shot at No. 11 — his only bogey so far this week.
Baldwin, who has been through the tour’s qualifying school six times in a turbulent career, made headlines three weeks ago by mishitting a drive so badly at the British Masters that the ball went between his legs and advanced only 8 yards (7 meters).
Now, on 13 under overall to tie the event’s 36-hole record, he is leading one of the European tour’s top fields that includes No. 3-ranked Rory McIlroy, who was among the afternoon starters following a first-round 67.
Antoine Rozner of France was the closest challenger to Baldwin after making birdie on each of the final five holes on the West Course to complete a bogey-free 65.
The No. 199-ranked Rozner was alone on 10 under.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
