Three-way tie for first at Italian Open

TURIN, Italy, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Felipe Aguilar used a 6-under-par 66 Friday to move into a tie for first place halfway through the European PGA Tour's Italian Open.

Aguilar had seven birdies and one bogey, getting two birdies in his final three holes to share the lead. Local favorite Francesco Molinari and Simon Thornton each shot 67 in the second round and are in first with Aguilar. They are at 9-under 135 after 36 holes.

David Higgins and Steve Webster, who each shot second-round 69s, and Nicolas Colsaerts, who had a 71 Friday, are tied for fourth at 8-under. Marcus Fraser (71 Friday) and Maximilian Kieffer (72) are tied at 7-under with a crowd of seven players at 6-under, three strokes off the lead.

Molinari was 2-under through 11 holes after a bogey at the 11th but posted three birdies in the next four holes for his 67.

Thornton was among the leaders but suffered a bogey at 17. A closing birdie pulled him back into the share for the lead.

Aguilar played the second nine first Friday and was 3-under through six holes. He had a bogey at the par-3 16th. He then played the first nine in 4-under.