CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland – Richie Ramsay shot a 4-under 66 Friday to lead Ryder Cup rookie Jamie Donaldson by one stroke in the second round of the European Masters.
The 2012 champion from Scotland had a 12-under total of 128 after starting in morning rain on the 6,848-yard (6,262-meter) Severiano Ballesteros course in the Swiss Alps.
Donaldson had seven birdies and a bogey in his afternoon 64, putting the 38-year-old Welshman in good position to follow up his win at the Czech Masters two weeks ago.
American Brooks Koepka shot a second straight 65 and was joined on 10 under by Graeme Storm of England.
Another American, David Lipsky, had a 64 to sit a further shot back.
Victor Dubuisson of France, the other Ryder Cup debutant in the lineup, carded a 67 to head a group of players on 8 under.
Edoardo Molinari of Italy, who shared the overnight lead with Ramsay, only managed a 70 to join Dubuisson and three others, including Scot Marc Warren whose 63 was the lowest score of the day despite a pair of bogeys early in his round.
The third member of Europe’s Ryder Cup team playing here, Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, dropped 10 shots off the lead.
Bjorn, the European Masters champion in 2011 and last year, carded a 72 after his 66 Thursday.
The cut was made at 1 under, leaving 2010 winner Miguel Angel Jimenez out of the weekend action after a second straight 70.
Jimenez can still stick around to watch the Ryder Cup trio, as he is one of Europe’s five vice-captains for the Sept. 26-28 match against the United States at Gleneagles, Scotland.