Dyson equals his own course record

Malton’s Dyson carded a seven-under-par 63 at Kennemer Golf Club, matching the record held by himself and four other players, to post a halfway total of eight under par, one behind the Spanish pair.

Dyson whose last win came at this event two years ago, said: “I’ve done well in previous years and played well today.

“I played really solid apart from the last two holes and never looked like making bogey.

“I hit a poor tee shot on the eighth, which was my 17th, and the lie determined the shot I had to play. I had quite a lot of room to pitch it on the green but had a terrible lie so had to play a little bump and run, a proper links shot, and managed to play it well.

“On the last I didn’t quite strike the chip as I wanted to but it was nice to roll the putt in and have a bogey-free round.”

Jimenez, already the oldest winner in European Tour history after claiming the Hong Kong Open aged 48 and 318 days last November, added a 67 to his opening 64 as he looks to claim his 20th Tour title and 13th since turning 40.

“This course suits me,” said the 49-year-old, who won his second tournament in this event in 1994, albeit at a different course.

“It’s not a very long course but you have to have the ball in position.

“I like this kind of links course and I feel very comfortable with my game.”

Harrogate’s John Parry missed the cut after a 71 while Sheffield’s Danny Willett - who led the tournament on Thursday morning - shot a 77 to bring a premature end to his challenge.

Hull’s Richard Finch shot successive 69s.

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington missed the cut after rounds of 71 and 69 left him level par.