Day two digest: 2020 ISPS HANDA Wales Open

Scotland’s Connor Syme remained on course for a maiden European Tour title, chips were well and truly on the menu and Brandon Stone ditched his dogs for a video game.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday's action in south Wales.

Syme targets U.S Open berth

Syme was the 54 hole leader over this course in the Celtic Classic last week before finishing tied for third. That left him ninth on the UK Swing Order of Merit – with the top ten at the end of the week qualifying for the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. “I’d say the U.S. Open was definitely one of my goals once I’d started the UK Swing,” Syme said. “To put myself into a position to do that is obviously great, but it’s not something you can really think about, there’s so much that can happen. Obviously I’m just trying to finish as high up the leaderboard as I can and the rest will take care of itself but there’s still a lot of golf to be played.”

Smith survives Celtic battle

Jordan Smith had shared the halfway lead with Syme, and remains in a share of second on four under after carding a 72 on Friday. The Englishman definitely felt like he had been put through the ringer after the 2010 Course proved difficult in more wet and windy conditions. “I feel like I’ve been out there all week,” he said, “But you’ve got to deal with it and get on and that’s what we did and managed to grind out a score. It was just one of those days and I’m happy to be in and to be at one over for today. I knew it was going to be a battle and it was. I’ll just go now and have a little drink and sit down, and have a quiet few minutes.”

Elvira defies tough conditions

One player seemingly enjoying the war of attrition is Spain's Nacho Elvira. Like Syme, Elvira is chasing a maiden European Tour title and boosted his cause by being one of only two players in the field to make it through Friday without dropping a shot. “It was all about the short game today because I missed a lot of greens just about with this wind, misjudged some distances,” he said. “So my chipping and putting was on point today.”

Campillo and Meronk feeling chipper

Pin in? Pin out? Adrian Meronk and Jorge Campillo proved you can hole out either way.

Stone puts video games before pets

They say a dog is for life, but apparently acknowledging them on your wedges isn't. At least if you're Brandon Stone.