ATZENBRUGG, Austria, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Robert Coles fired a 7-under-par 65 Friday and climbed into a four-way lead halfway through the European Tour's Austrian Open.
Coles closed with three birdies in his last four holes and is at 7-under after 36 holes. He's tied with Joost Luiten and Thomas Norret, who each shot 70 in the second round, and Gaganjeet Bhullar, whose 4-under 68 Friday included a triple bogey.
Four golfers, including amateur Matthias Schwab, are tied at 6-under. First-round leader Liam Bond, who shot even-par 72 Friday, is in a group of three at 4-under after Friday's play.
Coles opened with a birdie at No. 10 and worked his way up the leader board with birdies at 13, 18 and 1. After four pars he pulled into the lead with consecutive birdies on Nos. 6-8.
Luiten had four birdies and two bogeys Friday while Norret overcame a first-hole double bogey en route to his 70. He also had six birdies and two bogeys.
Bhullar opened on the back nine of the Diamond Country Club and birdied his first three holes Friday. By the time he'd played No. 1 -- his 10th hole -- he was 7-under on the day and three strokes ahead of the field. But he had a bogey at the third hole and a 7 at the 370-yard, par-4 pulled him down. A birdie at No. 6 got him into a tie for the lead.
