Nordea Masters 2015: Leaderboard Scores and Highlights from Friday
Swedes dominate the top of the Nordea Masters leaderboard after two days, with amateur Marcus Kinhult and compatriot Jens Dantorp leading the way.
The duo each backed up excellent opening rounds of 67 with solid four-under par rounds of 68 on Day 2, moving to nine-under ahead of the weekend. Kinhult is now only the second amateur in European Tour history to lead a tournament at the halfway point.
They’re two shots ahead of German star Maximilian Kieffer and fellow Swede Sebastian Soderberg, who finished the day seven-under.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Here’s a look at how the leaderboard is shaping up after another engrossing day of golf from Malmo:
| T1 | Jens Dantorp | -9 | 68 |
| T1 | Marcus Kinhult | -9 | 68 |
| T3 | Maximilian Kieffer | -7 | 69 |
| T3 | Sebastian Soderberg | -7 | 69 |
| T5 | Alex Noren | -6 | 68 |
| T5 | Eddie Pepperell | -6 | 70 |
| T5 | Tom Lewis | -6 | 68 |
| T8 | Alexander Levy | -5 | 70 |
| T8 | Hennie Otto | -5 | 70 |
| T8 | Magnus A Carlsson | -5 | 71 |
For the full leaderboard, check out the European Tour website.
Amateur Kinhult Still in the Hunt
After a hugely underwhelming Round 1 of 75, big-hitting Alvaro Quiros was the star of the show on Day 2. Conditions were difficult again on the second day, but the Spaniard was able to put together a stunning run of five consecutive birdies on his way to a superb round of 66.
As noted by the tournament’s official Twitter account, at the halfway point, Quiros seemed set for a super-low round:
Some bogeys on the back nine sapped his momentum, but an excellent effort helped thrust him back to within touching distance of the leaders, getting back to three-under for the tournament.
Atop of the standings is a new name to many, as Kinhult proved his opening 67 was no fluke. The teenager came into the day with a share of the lead, and given the added expectation that would accompany him on Day 2, it would have been no surprise to see him wilt.
But he consolidated his spot atop of the leaderboard with another brilliant round, holing five birdies and one bogey in a classy 68. As he revealed afterward, per the European Tour’s official website, he’s loving every minute of this tournament on home soil:
"I’m pretty happy with my score and where I am in the tournament,” he said. “Today was more of a solid round from tee to green and I made two big putts, but my putting wasn’t as good as it was yesterday. My game feels good at the moment.
It’s pretty special to play a European Tour event – this is only my second time doing that. And to play at home in Sweden makes it even more special.
"
For sustained spells, it looked as though he was going to have the outright lead, but there was a rally from Dantorp to thrust himself back into contention. He went out in 32 through the front nine to go level with the 18-year-old, and although a bogey at 12 left him a shot back, a birdie at 14 ensured the Swede would take a share of the lead going into Day 3.
There was engrossing action all over the course on this encapsulating day. The highlight came from Mark Foster, as we can see here:
Also in the hunt is Soderberg, who would have only been one shot back had it not been for a bogey at the penultimate hole. Directly below him on the leaderboard is another Swede, Alex Noren, who matched the leaders’ 68 to give the upper reaches of the standings a distinctive yellow and blue tinge.
One player the home crowd would have been desperate to see do well was Henrik Stenson. The world No. 4 is the most high-profile player at this competition and began with a decent round of 70. However, he’ll be disappointed with a round of 72 on Friday, even though he’ll fancy his chances of surging up the leaderboard over the weekend.
If he can produce these kinds of shots on a regular basis, Stenson will be in with a brilliant chance:
However, all eyes will be on Kinhult to see if he can keep up this superb form when the pressure bites over the weekend. As we can see here, he certainly seems to have the swing to go a long way in the game:
But the tense knockings of a tournament are a completely different proposition, especially when going out in the final pairing, which will be another unfamiliar dynamic for the youngster.
With conditions looking a little better on Saturday, expect some low scoring from the pack and players bidding to put pressure on the Swedish leaders. If Kinhult can get through Day 3 with a lead intact, we could well be witness to an historic triumph come Sunday’s climax.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
