Friday's second-round play at the European Masters golf tournament at Crans Montana saw Argentina's Eduardo Romero hold onto his first place, after shooting a three-under-par 68. He is hotly pursued by a leader group of four players.

Britons Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke, Australia's Jarrod Moseley, and Hennie Otto of South Africa will be hoping to play catch-up in Saturday's round.

A record four Swiss professionals are in action at the tournament. The second round was kind to Paolo Quirici, who shot a par-level 71, a drop from his first round four-under of 67, and who held onto his position in the leading group.

Countryman André Bossert, who was away from the circuit from 1997 until the start of this season, matched Quirici's first round 67 score in the second, making six birdies between the 7th and 17th. Both Steve Rey and Dimitri Bieri were not unhappy with their two-over of 73.

Since the European PGA Tour was founded in 1971, no more than two Swiss have made it into the final round at any one time, and no more than one since 1996.

swissinfo with agencies

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative