New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox has moved into a share of the lead after his second round at the European Tour event in Saudi Arabia.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Fox recorded a second straight round of five-under par 65 on Saturday (NZ time) to sit at 10-under alongside Stephen Gallacher.
The Scotsman still had six holes to complete when play was suspended because of fading light, with the start to his round delayed by early rain at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.
Fox and Gallacher were two shots clear of a group that included world number one American Dustin Johnson, who surged up the leaderboard with five birdies in his 14 completed holes on day two.
England's Tommy Fleetwood dropped a shot on the final hole to sit three strokes off the lead alongside former world number one Justin Rose, Scotland's Calum Hill and France's Victor Perez.
Five-times major winner Phil Mickelson remained in contention at five-under, a stroke clear of reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who had four holes to play in his second round.
Fox, whose only European Tour title came at the 2019 ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth, said he was not intimidated by the pedigree of the chasing pack.
"I don't know how many of the top 50 in the world are here this week but it's a lot," the 34-year-old said.
"And there's a reason they're there, they're world class players, and I certainly hope to be there one day.
"If I can play well this week, then it's a step forward in that direction. If not, it's just good experience and a nice finish to my Desert Swing because I don't really know when I'm going to come back out here again."
- RNZ, Reuters