Molinari in front at European Tour's PGA Championship

VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 24 (UPI) -- Francesco Molinari, despite wet and windy conditions, shot a 4-under-par 68 Friday and took the lead of the European Tour's BWM PGA Championship in England.

Molinari's round included seven birdies and three bogeys, with a 20-foot birdie putt by the 18th hole worth a one-stroke lead at 6-under 138 after 36 holes.

Four players are right behind him at 5-under. Mark Foster had a 3-under 69 while Alejandro Canizares, George Coetzee and Marc Warren all turned in second-round 70s and are at 139 for the tournament.

First-round leader James Kingston staggered to a 5-over 77 and dropped into a tie for 20th, five strokes behind Molinari.

Molinari opened play Friday with a bogey but was 3-under the rest of the front nine. He came back from a bogey at the 10th hole with three birdies in a four-hole span. Molinari slipped back with a 16th-hole bogey before the 20-footer at 18 left him alone in the lead.