Austrian Markus Brier, again buoyed by enthusiastic home support, recovered from a double-bogey to lead the Austrian Open for a second day today.
Brier, who comes from Vienna and is attached to the hosting Fontana Club, followed up his adventurous opening day with a less spectacular four-under-par 67 to move to 10-under-par 132.
He shares the two-shot lead with Britain's Simon Dyson, one of four players trailing Brier by a stroke overnight, who carded a 66.
Dyson's playing partner Gary Emerson, also from Britain, carded a 64 to break the Fontana record, set by Brier the previous day, by a shot to hold third place. Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez was also two off the pace after a 67.
Eight-times European number one Colin Montgomerie produced a blistering finish to threaten from three shots behind.
Brier, who had once again made light of the pressure of trying to win in front of his home crowd, moved two ahead of the field early on.
However, on his 11th hole, the second of the course, he left a ball in the bunker and ran up the double-bogey before repairing the damage with two birdies.
Brier, who had a hole in one at the 11th the previous day, said: "I had wet hands after going birdie-birdie before the second hole and shouldn't have tried to get over the water from the bunker. "My ball hit the lip. It was my only hiccough of the day and I was glad I made the birdies after it."
The 37-year-old still has his maiden full tour title in his sights, having won the Austrian Open twice on the Challenge Tour.
Of the Irish, David Higgins finished well to share third place in a group of five on seven-under. Gary Murphy is on four-under, Stephen Browne is on two-under, Paul McGinley level with Michael Hoey and Colm Moriarty on four and nine over respectively.
