A superb record ten under par 61 handed Ireland's Damien McGrane a four stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Telefónica Centro America Abierto de Guatemala, the second of three joint-sanctioned events between the European Challenge Tour and the Tour de last Americas.

Sweden's Johan Edfors - with the assistance of a hole in one at the 200 yard 17th - carded his second 67 of the championship for outright second place. Argentina’s Hernan Rey and Daniel Vancsik lie joint third at six under par, trailing McGrane by six shots.

McGrane, 31, from County Wexford and a full Member of The European Tour after securing his card at the Qualifying School Finals, sets the pace with a 12 under par total of 130 after adding that blistering 61 to his opening 69. It was the lowest round in Tour de Las America history.

Swirling breezes during the second day's play at Club Hacienda Nueva pushed the halfway cut to 143, one over par, with 51 players through to the weekend.
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Hardly surprisingly, 31 year old McGrane was delighted with his performance: He said: "I'm very happy with that. I played really well from the first hole. If you are playing a lot and playing well, it is only a question of time before a really good score comes along. I've been playing well so it was nice that today was my turn!"

If McGrane appeared to have switched onto autopilot with 11 birdies and one bogey, second-placed Edfors was more up and down. The 27 year old from Gothenburg, who had a four putt double bogey in his round, said: "I thing I got a little anxious on the 15th trying to make eagle. Actually I felt flu-like symptoms over the last few holes and a little tired."