GERMANY, 25 Sept 2015, (AFP) - South Africa's Charl Schwartzel, lying two shots off the pace overnight, shot a second round 66 for a ten-under par total of 132.
Former European Open winner Ross Fisher went one better, carding a 65 to join him alongside fellow Briton Graeme Storm, who produced an eagle at the par five 10th.
"I didn’t feel I was hitting the ball that great but I got round and made a few putts and I had a chip in on the tenth for eagle, which always helps," said Storm.
Starting his round at the tenth tee, former Masters Tournament winner Schwartzel covered the front nine in 35, mixing eight pars with a birdie.
He made another gain straight after the turn before chipping in from beside the green to save par at the short second.
The 31-year-old then added birdies at the third, fifth and eighth holes to head into the weekend on tied for the lead.
He said: "I've been feeling like I'm going to play well for a while, knocking on the door, but not had the momentum go my way."
Another Briton, Richard McEvoy, threatened to join this trio on ten-under in the clubhouse but for a bogey on the 18th.
That left him with a 67 and a share of fourth with An Byeong-Hun who added a 65 to his opening round of 68.
The South Korean is pleased with how he is playing. He said: "I'm one off the lead and I like my chances.
"I've been playing well. "Certainly last week I was playing well. I've worked hard on my putting, and I have putted well so far this week too."
Darren Fichardt and Johan Edfors were in joint sixth.
German legend and course designer Bernhard Langer followed up Thursday's 66 with a 71, while Austrian Bernd Wiesberger had a terrible day at the office.
He shared the overnight lead with a first round 64 only to follow up with a five over par 76 to plummet down the field.
Leading European Open second round scores at the Golf Resort Bad Griesbach on Friday (GBR/IRL unless stated, par 71):
132 - Ross Fisher 67 65, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 66 66, Graeme Storm 65 67
133 - Byeong-Hun An (KOR) 68 65, Richard McEvoy 66 67
134 - Darren Fichardt (RSA) 65 69, Johan Edfors (SWE) 66 68
135 - Richard Bland 65 70, Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 69 66, Magnus A Carlsson (SWE) 67 68, Jamie Donaldson 67 68, Justin Walters (RSA) 67 68, Oliver Fisher 66 69, Florian Fritsch (GER) 66 69
136 - Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN) 68 68, Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 66 70, John Parry 66 70, Maximilian Kieffer (GER) 68 68, James Morrison 67 69, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 68 68, Peter Uihlein (USA) 68 68, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 67 69, Benjamin Hebert (FRA) 64 72
137 - Bernhard Langer (GER) 66 71, Hennie Otto (RSA) 67 70, Anders Hansen (DEN) 69 68, Sebastian Heisele (GER) 70 67, Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 70 67, Kenneth Ferrie 70 67, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 70 67, Alessandro Tadini (ITA) 68 69, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 70 67, Richard Green (AUS) 65 72