Jaunty Joost Luiten cements his status as emphatic favourite in Austria

Joost Luiten has taken control of the Euram Bank Open at the halfway stage – the pre-tournament 5-1 favourite firing a second-round 63 at Golf Club Adamstal.

Luiten, who went into the final round of the Austrian Open two shots behind on Sunday before labouring to a 75 and dropping to 18th place, has bounced back from that disappointment by reaching 12 under par through 36 holes of the Euram Bank Open.

Luiten, a six-times European Tour champion, has eagled the par-five third hole in each of the first two rounds. The diminutive Dutchman has been trading around the even-money mark on the exchanges. There is a thunderstorm threat for the final two rounds, so, like for the Austrian Open, a soggy denouement could be in store.

Adri Arnaus finished four under par, so the Spanish ace has an eight-shot deficit to overcome if he is to make his European Tour breakthrough.

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