Alexandre Rocha

Brazilian Alexandre Rocha stormed to the lead at the halfway point of the Reno-Tahoe Open with a blistering round on Friday.

Using the modified Stableford scoring system, Rocha picked up 16 points in his second round to take his total to 24 at the Montreux Golf & Country Club in Nevada.

Nick O'Hern is the best placed Australian with 15 points, while Rod Pampling and Stuart Appleby both have nine.

American duo John Mallinger and JJ Henry are two points behind in second place, while Argentine Andres Romero and Indian Arjun Atwal are a further stroke back.

Matt Bettencourt added 12 points to move up to outright sixth place with 20, one clear of John Daly, who picked up nine points.

Rocha lost three points with three bogeys, but more than made up for it with seven birdies and an eagle on the par-five 13th.

Mallinger matched his first-round haul with another 11 points thanks to six birdies, while Henry recovered from two early bogeys to pick up 12 points with his eagle on the par-five 8th the highlight.

American JB Holmes had the best round of the day with nine birdies helping him pick up 17 points and move up 76 places to a tie for eighth.