Defending champion Thriston Lawrence reeled off six birdies in a row and then made an excellent par save from a bunker to secure the lead at the halfway stage of the Omega European Masters as he looks to emulate the late, great Seve Ballesteros.

Ballesteros is the only player to win this event three times since it became a DP World Tour tournament in 1972, doing so in 1977, 1978 and 1989 - but Lawrence has a chance to do likewise having triumphed at Crans-sur-Siere in 2022 and then again last season.

The South African carded a bogey-free, seven-under 63 on Friday to reach 13 under par and take a two-shot advantage over Germany's Jeremy Paul and Spain's Ignacio Elvira - who shot a round-of-the day 62 - into the weekend in Switzerland.

Japan's Keita Nakajima sits fourth on 10 under with England's Paul Casey among a group of three players in a share of fifth on nine under with 36 holes remaining.