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Matt Wallace grabs share of lead in Mexico as Erik van Rooyen stays in the hunt

Matt Wallace

Matt Wallace added a second round 65 to his opening 66 to take a share of the halfway lead in the Mexico Open.

The Englishman played his last nine holes in 30, including an eagle three at the sixth hole in between a pair of birdies, as he moved to 11-under-par.

"I think it's just a ball-striker's golf course. You obviously need to putt well every single week, but it is a ball-striker's golf course where if you're hitting fairways and greens, you've not going to be giving shots away and you can make a bunch of birdies," he said.

Wallace is joined by Finland's Sami Valimaki, who shot 67, American Jake Knapp and home favourite Alvaro Ortiz, who both carded a 64.

Ortiz thrilled the local crowds as he made five birdies on his first nine holes before adding an eagle on the par-5 sixth.

"It was pretty solid. From tee to green it was as good as it could be. I hit the ball very well and just felt very comfortable out there," said the 28-year-old.

"It was very clean, very stress free and I was glad to be able to make that eagle on six. I feel like I was losing a little bit of momentum leaving a couple putts go, but it was good to get that one back. Happy to be in the position I'm in."

The leading foursome are one shot ahead of the first-round leader Erik van Rooyen from South Africa, who added a 69 to his opening 63 thanks to a pair of late birdies to stay in the hunt.

There is then a two-shot gap back to American duo Andrew Novak and Mark Hubbard with defending champion Tony Finau among an 18-strong group five strokes off the pace.

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre moved to five-under-par with a 66, one ahead of England's Aaron Rai and Irish veteran Padraig Harrington.

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