Michael Hoey on the 16th, Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieMichael Hoey shook off the effects of a cold to card a four under 68 and trail Lee Westwood  by six shots at the halfway stage of the Nordea Masters at Bro Hof Slott.

The Belfast man had six birdies and two bogeys in a sterling effort to get to six under but Westwood was imperious in perfect conditions as he fired eight birdies in a flawless 64 to lead by three shots from Spaniard Carlos Del Moral, home favourite Peter Hanson and Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman.

Playing in the event where he recorded his maiden European Tour victory back in 1996 for the first time since 2004, the world No 3 said: “I’ve always enjoyed coming to Sweden, obviously winning here for the first time in 1996 gave me an affinity.

“And then I won again in 2000 when I won the money list so I’ve had a lot of success in Sweden and it’s somewhere I enjoy coming to.”

Gareth Maybin had seven birdies in a five under 67 to make the one under par cut with ease on three under following his opening 74.

But there was no luck for Shane Lowry, Damien McGrane or Simon THornton as they made an early exit on four over.

Lowry, ranked 94th in the Race to Dubai, missed hit second cut in a row and his third from his last four starts when he had three birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys in a 76 as Thornton doubled the last for a second successive 74 and McGrane post a 73.