SPIJK, Netherlands (AFP) - Austria's Bernd Wiesberger carved out a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Dutch Open after a five-under-par 66 in Friday's (Sept 9) second round at Spijk.

Wiesberger recovered superbly from a patchy start, having bogeyed two of his opening three holes, bouncing straight back to reel off three successive birdies.

The 30-year-old made seven birdies in total as he matched his first-round 66, leaving him 10-under overall and well positioned for a tilt at a fourth European Tour victory this weekend.

"I've been playing alright, I've just not had breaks going for me," said Wiesberger, who has just two top-10 finishes this season following an impressive 2015 campaign.

"I've not had a good, solid week on the greens. It was good to finally hole a couple of putts and get a score."

Nino Bertasio had threatened to join Wiesberger atop the leaderboard, but a bogey at the 18th dropped the unheralded Italian into a three-way tie for second place after he signed for a four-under 67.

Home hope Joost Luiten is level with Bertasio and Englishman Mark Foster after the Dutchman shot a flawless 64 in the joint-lowest round of the day.

Overnight leader Ben Evans is another shot back along with Spain's Alejandro Canizares and fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, while Australian Scott Hend, runner-up in a play-off at Crans Montana last weekend, is three strokes behind the leader.