Nystrom & Baraka top leaderboard

Sweden's Henrik Nystrom birdied six holes on Friday to join overnight leader Kariem Baraka on 10 under par after two rounds of the Russian Open.

The 35-year-old Swede, who shot a six-under-par 66 to add to his opening 68, was pleased with his efforts at the Moscow Country Club in suburban Nakhabino, just north of the capital.

"It was a little strange actually because I putted so well on the front nine and holed a few long putts," he said. "Then the back nine was the opposite when I started to hit the ball very close but didn't hole as many putts."

Germany's Baraka, who fired a nine-under-par 63 to take a two-stroke lead after day one, struggled on day two with back-to-back bogeys on the ninth and 10th holes but still finished one under for the day.

"Today I must have hit about five or six bad drives," said Baraka, 26, nephew of former Masters champion and Europe's Ryder Cup captain Bernard Langer.

"I also had a few too many putts that just missed the hole," he added. "You could call it unlucky but at the same time you could say that I got lucky yesterday with a few of the putts that went in."

Scotland's Euan Little and Marcus Brier of Austria were tied for third, one stroke behind the leaders before the two final rounds over the weekend.

England's Gary Emerson, at 40 one of the most experienced players in the field, had the best score on day two with a seven under 65 to stay in contention, two strokes off the pace.

"I hit a bogey on the eighth but overall I am very pleased," he said.

"I was a little frustrated at first because I hit a lot of good shots early on without holding anything -- much the same as yesterday when I didn't make any putts but then I started making a few and took a bit of confidence from it."

Last year's runner-up Martin Wiegele of Austria, who was second after an opening round 65, survived the weekend cut but dropped back to four under with a three-over-par 75.

All five Russians in the 156-strong field, however, missed the cut, which was made at two under.

After early sunshine, rain returned in the afternoon following heavy thunderstorms late on Thursday.

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