Olesen in Front at Mauritius Open


Denmark's Thorbjørn Olesen has carded rounds of 6-under 65 and a 3-under 68 to take the halfway lead in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. The European Tour event is being held at Heritage Golf Club on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.

The 25-year-old Olesen enters the weekend at 9-under 133, a stroke ahead of Sweden's Pelle Edberg, who's carded a 68 and 66, and two ahead of England's Matt Fitzpatrick and South Africans Thomas Aiken and Dean Burmester.

After posting eight birdies and two bogeys Thursday, Olesen added six birdies and three bogeys the following day.

"I'm enjoying being out there and I holed some nice putts. All in all it was a good day and I'm happy with 3-under," Olesen told the European Tour's website. "I'm really looking forward to the weekend. It's been a long break and then all of a sudden I'm up there in the lead, so it will be a lot of fun. Mauritius is a beautiful country, so no matter what happens, I will still like it.

"I didn't have the biggest expectations this week but I knew I was swinging the club well and I've been practicing hard the last couple of weeks. I was obviously hoping for something good, but I've been surprised at how good my short game has been this week.

"I thought it would be the part that would be rusty, but it has actually been really good. I'm pleased at that it's brilliant to be leading. It's fun to be out there and be at the front again."

Edberg is looking through a breakthrough on the European Tour. "It's not a bad start," said the 36-year-old, who has had 13 top-10 finishes but no titles so far in his career. "I've played pretty solid and pretty nice both days. I've taken advantage of the par fives and the driveable par-4s. I've been up there on pretty much every hole, putting for eagle, and those holes are the key this week.

"I've been hitting driver on every hole because I've been hitting it so good. Maybe I should take three wood on some holes, but not this week because I'm going for it. I hit it quite far and if I can get it in play, I'm only going to have a wedge in, so it doesn't matter if I'm in the rough. I'm keeping it in play though and taking advantage of the par-5s."

Fitzpatrick, the champion of the 2013 U.S. Amateur when it was held at The Country Club in Massachusetts, qualified for the European Tour after turning pro after the 2014 U.S. Open. The 20-year-old Brit had six birdies as well as a double-bogey on the par-4 17th. "It was steady and solid after that; I'm not too far off the lead," he said after his round.

"A two-shot swing can happen in a round or even on a hole here. We've only played two rounds and anything can happen. It's great being in Mauritius - I came here at the end of last year and it is great place. It's been a great week so far, not only because I'm playing nicely, but we are looked after so well."

American Paul Peterson has recorded rounds of 69 and 70 and goes into Saturday at 3-under 139 in a tie for 20th.

The 36-hole cut was set at 1-over 143.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015034/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y.