MALMO, Sweden, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Nick Dougherty fired a 3-under-par 69 Friday to move to 8-under 136 and open a three-shot lead at the halfway point of the Scandinavian Masters.
Former Walker Cup teammate Luke Donald (68), ex-Ryder Cup captain Mark James (70) and Holland's Maarten Lafeber (71) all were three shots off the pace.
The 21-year-old Dougherty has been suffering from glandular fever since May and the debilitating illness has caused him to struggle on the course and sleep for more than 17 hours at a time.
James will be 50 in October and therefore eligible for the Champions Tour.
"I'm hoping to build toward 50 because I have been sliding inexorably toward it," said James, who is 165th on the European Tour's money list after making four cuts in 11 events this season.
