Fredrik Widmark takes narrow advantage

Swede Fredrik Widmark took a one-shot lead after the Russian Open second round on Friday while former world tennis number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov bombed out on his European Tour debut.

Widmark, who had trailed overnight leader Tom Whitehouse by a stroke, birdied seven holes on his way to a second consecutive five-under-par 67 to finish at 10-under 134, one ahead of compatriot Mikael Lundberg.

"I got off to a good start with birdies at the 10th and 11th and things went on nicely," said the 29-year-old Swede, who has won twice on the Challenge Tour this year.

"Then I hit into the water on the 15th but managed to birdie another five holes which really got me going."

Amateur Kafelnikov, however, ballooned to an horrendous 96 to finish last in the 155-strong field at 40-over 184.

"This game is a lot harder to master than tennis," lamented the 31-year-old Russian, who was given a wild card entry into the $500,000 tournament.

After heavy rain kept players on edge for much of the opening day, glorious sunshine returned to the Moscow Country Club in suburban Nakhabino on Friday.

"The weather couldn't be any better than it was today," said Lundberg, whose 68 included seven birdies and three bogeys on the demanding 7,154-yard course to stay in the hunt.

Meanwhile, Britain's Whitehouse followed his opening 66 with a six-bogey 75 to slump seven shots off the pace.

"Nothing happened for me at all today," said the 25-year-old Englishman from Birmingham. "I didn't feel like I played that badly and certainly didn't deserve to shoot three over today."

Multiple PGA Tour winner David Frost of South Africa battled to a 76 to finish at seven over while Britain's former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart narrowly made the halfway cut with a 36-hole total of level-par 144.

Russian amateur Dmitry Vinogradov's bid to become the first player from his country to make the cut at a European Tour event came up short.

The 19-year-old made a flying start with an eagle and two birdies on the first three holes but then ran up four bogeys before missing out by three shots.

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