Mena Tour Championship leader Henric Sturehed plans to keep the 'feel-good vibes going' after setting Al Zorah course record

Swede carded a 63 at the Ajman course to lead his nearest challenger by five shots at the halfway stage.

Henric Sturehed fired eight birdies and an eagle en route to setting a new course record at Al Zorah Golf Club. Courtesy Mena Golf Tour

Swede Henric Sturehed set a course record on Day 2 of the Mena Tour Championship to sit top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage.

Sturehed, 27, birdied his final three holes to card a superb 63 at Al Zorah Golf Club in Ajman on Tuesday, lifting him to 13-under par for the tournament, the circuit’s season finale.

Firing eight birdies and an eagle, offset by a solitary bogey on the eighth – Sturehed has opened a five-shot lead over closest challenger Andrew Marshall. The Englishman, one of four players still in the hunt for the Order of Merit crown, posted a second-round 66.

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“Conditions were a bit tougher today because of the cross winds, but I had a good, solid day,” said Sturehed, who chipped in for eagle on the par-5 fourth. “Very pleased with my efforts. Struck the ball nicely and putted quite well. My approaches were spot on and that created plenty of scoring opportunities.

“I am feeling good about my game, which is great. You can’t complain after shooting 9-under. You never know what tomorrow holds as there are many good players in the field and anything can happen. I need to stick to my game plan and keep the feel-good vibes going.”

Overnight leader Jamie Elson, who currently tops the Order of Merit, is in a two-way tie for third with Canada’s Lindsay Renolds. Both sit at 7-under. At second in the season-long race, England’s Luke Joy is two shots back in fifth alongside Fredrik From, with the Swede the last of the quartet who could also land the Order of Merit this week.

Marshall is nearest to Sturehed, though, with their two-time winner on the Mena Tour bouncing back from a bogey on his second hole on Tuesday to register seven birdies.