Nicolas Colsaerts shot a second straight 7-under 65 to share the lead with Cameron John at halftime of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Colsaerts kicked off his tournament with a 65 at the Old Course at St Andrews on Thursday and posted the same score on Friday at Carnoustie to reach 14-under par.
Colsaerts, who has played this event since 2004, cited his experience for his success in the opening two rounds.
“I’ve been playing pretty well since yesterday. St Andrews, I really plotted my way around,” said Colsaerts. “But here, it requires a little bit more local knowledge. Having played in this (event) definitely helps.
“Didn’t really get off to the best of starts. I was more agitated, and I didn’t hit the shots that I wanted. Then I started to get on a roll and birdied the ninth, which is not a hole that you birdie usually, and then went a couple on the spin, which was great, and kept it going.
“I birdied the 17th, which is also a hole you don’t really birdie at Carnoustie. So yeah, it all fitted together.”
Meanwhile, the Aussie John chased an opening-round 62 at Kingsbarns with a solid round of 68 on the Old Course to join the Belgian atop the 36-hole leaderboard.
“It’s just fun. You don’t get it a lot back home, the odd course that plays similar but nothing quite the same,” said John, who qualified for the Dunhill Links Championship by finishing in the top 10 of the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Final Order of Merit in 2024.
“And that’s kind of just the outlook of the week, just enjoy it, take it all in, walking up 18, it’s always pretty special, so just remember it.”
Home favorite David Law (67) and overnight leader Darren Fichardt (70) were tied for third on 13 under, one clear of an unremarkable foursome on 12 under.
English stars Tommy Fleetwood (65) and Tyrrell Hatton (68) headlined a four-player group at 11 under.
2024 Dunhill Links Championship
Dunhill Links Top 10: Halftime
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. Nicolas Colsaerts -14 (-7)
1. Cameron John -14 (-4)
3. David Law -13 (-5)
3. Darren Fichardt -13 (-2)
5. Joost Luiten -12 (-7)
5. Robin Williams -12 (-6)
5. Jens Dantorp -12 (-4)
5. Daniel Hillier -12 (-3)
9. Tommy Fleetwood -11 (-7)
9. Tyrrell Hatton -11 (-4)
9. James Ashfield -11 (-3)
9. Tom Vaillant -11 (-3)
