Swedish outsider Kristoffer Broberg has defied his lowly world ranking of No.772 to take a narrow lead at the halfway stage of the Dutch Open, after a superb second round of 64 at Bernardus Golf Course.

Broberg recorded nine birdies and a solitary bogey to establish a new course record with his eight-under-par round on Friday, which gives him a one-shot lead over Denmark's Marcus Helligkilde and Belgium's Thomas Detry.

Broberg's only win on the European Tour came six years ago at the BMW Masters in China.

Ireland's Niall Kearney, who held the overnight lead following an opening 65, added a second round of 69 to lie two shots off the pace on 10 under, alongside Germany's Maximilian Kieffer.

The only Australian in the field to make the cut was Queenslander Maverick Antcliff, whose second round 67 put him at four under, eight off the lead and way down in joint 38th place.

"I played really well today," Broberg said. "I started off with three straight birdies and then I hit a good shot on 13, that tough par three there, but I missed a short one and then birdied 14.

"I hit some bad shots and some really good shots but my putter is smoking hot, so I am playing some decent golf.

"I am taking it one shot at a time. I have been struggling all year with injuries, so it is nice to be playing good again.

"I was home for a month so saw an optician for my right eye and they saw something, so I have a contact lens on that eye so now I can see the putts on the line. I am rolling it pretty good so happy with it."

Scotland's David Drysdale fired five birdies and an eagle to cover the front nine in just 29 shots on his way to a 65 which left him on seven under alongside Ryder Cup vice-captain Graeme McDowell.