Aussies Whitney Hillier and defending champion Rebecca Artis are just two off the lead at the halfway point of the Helsingborg Open.

The pair share second place at five-under-par with Scotland`s Kylie Walker and are chasing the Netherlands Dewi Claire Schreefel, who fired a second round of two-under-par 70 at Vasatorps Golfklubb in Sweden on Friday to lead.

After a warm and breezy afternoon, a large chasing pack were on four-under-par: Danes Nicole Broch Larsen (67), Line Vedel (70), Swedes Louise Friberg (71) and Caroline Hedwall (70), Austrian Christine Wolf (70), Valentine Derrey from France (71) and Marianne Skarpnord of Norway (71).

Schreefel started her second round on the back nine and picked up a pair of birdies on holes 15 and 18 but made a double bogey on the par-four fifth hole, before recovering with two more birdies on the sixth and seventh holes. She said: “I played solid again today and just had a little hiccup on five where I had a double, but I’m playing good. I’m hitting the ball solid and seeing my lines, so I’m happy.

Playing in the same group, Hillier made a solid start with a birdie on 15 and bogeyed 17 to go out in 36. She then bogeyed the first, birdied the second and third and finished with a bogey on nine for another half of level par.

Hillier said: “I had three birdies and three bogeys so it was pretty solid, really. I would have liked to have done better but it was tough out there and the greens are a lot quicker today so I’ll keep on going. It was nice and calm this morning but the greens are quick which makes it difficult.”

Fellow Australian Artis was displeased with her putting, despite carding four birdies and two bogeys. She said: “I hit the ball great today but the putter ran very cold on me. I gave myself a lot of opportunities and I knocked it in to under three metres a lot. I felt like I was starting them on good lines but maybe the pace was a little out but I stayed patient because I felt like I was hitting good putts and just couldn’t get anything to drop. I stayed patient and grinded it out and finished two under for the day so I’m not too disappointed with that.”

Nikki Campbell continues to play consistent golf, the Canberra golfer is tied for 16th at two-under-par. Nikki Garrett is tied for 23rd position a further shot back.

The cut was made at three-over and 67 players will contest the final 36 holes. Unfortunately Bree Arthur, Alison Whitaker and Adriana Brent will have the week-end off.