GOLF EUROPEAN TOUR: RICARDO GONZALEZ and Lee Slattery, who got away from golf in very different places and in very different ways last week, are first and second at the halfway stage of the Scandinavian Masters in Malmo, Sweden.

Gonzalez, who after failing to qualify for the British Open returned to Argentina and worked on his farm all week, moved into the lead on 10 under par after a second successive 68.

First-round pacesetter Slattery, who went on picnics in England’s Lake District, is one behind after adding a 70 to his sparkling 67.

“I had to stop thinking about golf for a while,” said the 30-year-old from Southport, who has fallen to 136th place on the European money list and 504th in the world this season.

“Not only did I leave my clubs behind, I didn’t even take my phone.”

For the second day running the former Challenge Tour winner, yet to taste victory on the main circuit, was forced off the Barseback course by an approaching storm.

In the first round it rather took the wind out of his sails after he had raced to an outward 30, but this time it worked in his favour.

“It was getting really windy when we stopped, but it had died down as we went back out.”

Slattery finished with a superb, 287-yard three-wood onto the green at the long ninth and two-putted for birdie.

Gonzalez is also having a rough year, finding himself 153rd on the Race To Dubai standings and 316th on the world rankings.

His “Handicap Cero” farm south of Buenos Aires is also an education centre for youngsters, and the 39-year-old was out helping with the felling and stacking of trees to prepare for the winter.

“I started at around eight o’clock each day and worked through until about seven,” said Gonzalez.

At 7,665 yards this week’s lay-out is the longest in European Tour history it and was always going to suit the former caddie, who topped the driving distance statistics in Europe in both 2001 and 2004.

Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane had matching scores to lead the Irish challenge.

After opening with level par 73s, the pair recorded two-under 71s for a share of 18th place.

Lawrie had four birdies and two bogeys in his round, while McGrane had five birdies but three dropped shots.

Gareth Maybin and Gary Murphy are a shot back. Maybin shot a level par 73, while Murphy, after an opening 71, slipped a bit to a 74.

Michael Hoey is level par after his 74.

But Jonathan Caldwell crashed to a 77, including two double bogeys, to finish on four over, well outside the cut.

Pre-tournament favourite Henrik Stenson, who is donating all his prize money to his new foundation charity, was relieved not to leave empty-handed after a closing birdie removed the threat of missing the cut.

Stenson is down on one over following a 74. However, he said: “At least I’m around for the weekend and hopefully I can put some gasoline on the fire now and really get going.”

Joint third on six under, four behind Gonzalez, are Scotland’s former US Amateur champion Richie Ramsay and Swede Martin Erlandsson.

Ramsay admits he was embarrassed by an opening 77, one of the worst scores of the day, in the British Open last week and was put in touch with Pádraig Harrington’s American “mind guru” Bob Rotella.

“I really struggled mentally there I felt and he was just saying I’ve got to be more positive,” said the Aberdeen golfer.