Portugal Colonial - Soederberg extends lead at home Scandinavian Mixed golf

The Swede posted a second round 66, following on from Thursday's 63 -- and is yet to score a bogey at the event's midway point.

"It was quite different to yesterday," said 33-year-old Soederberg.

"I had a stretch in the middle for eight or nine holes where it felt like I was saving par on every hole. But I played really well the last seven or eight holes.

"It looks a lot more steady than it is on the inside. I just try and stay as neutral as possible. You're always going to have some ups and downs, pulse-wise. Just got to try and stay calm for the rest of the week."

In Soederberg's last four tournaments, he recorded two second places and one third place, as well as making the cut at last month's US PGA Championship.

The Eksjo-native sits at 15 under, three shots ahead of Scotland's Scott Jamieson in second and four ahead of France's Julien Guerrier.

Fellow Swede Linn Grant is the best-placed Ladies European Tour player at the mixed event and sits joint fourth on nine under, after opening rounds of 67 and 68.

Grant, playing in her hometown of Helsingborg, was the DP World Tour's first female winner when she lifted the Scandinavian Mixed trophy in 2022.

In what was a memorable day for the local players, Ellinor Suedow also posted a remarkable hole-in-one on the 161-yard 14th hole, though she did miss the cut.

V.Fontes--PC