Aussie Marcus Fraser singled out one of his best mates from his home club at Corowa as pivotal in striving for gold in the Men’s Olympic Games Golf showdown in Rio.

The 38-year old Fraser posted a two under par 69 to move to 10-under par and one clear of Belgium’s Thomas Pieters (66) on a rain-interrupted second day.

But then looming large is Open Champion Henrik Stenson, who despite taking a sloppy bogey at the 17th, signed for a three under 68 to be in third place on eight under par.

Fraser also could look back on a bad bogey in his round at that was at the driveable par-4 16th hole where he pulled his tee shot slightly and needed four more strokes to finish the hole.

Marcus Fraser (r) and stand-in Rio caddy Jason Wallace, a best mate from aged 10 years who have combined for Fraser to lead by one stroke with two rounds to play in the Olympic Games gold medal chase in Rio,

But then it was just one two bogeys for the reigning Maybank Championship winner on the Gil Hanse designed course.

“I felt like I putted very similar to yesterday but the only problem was the ball just found a way to avoid the holes,” he said.

“But that’s golf. That’s the way it goes some days. Overall, I felt really comfortable out there. I did the same again today. It’s always hard to back up a score like 63, but I felt like, you know, 2‑under 69 is a good effort after yesterday, as well.

“But then today felt so different from yesterday. I think that’s a testament to how good the golf course is. It can feel so different the next day, and even though it was a similar wind direction, different pins and a few different tees and that kind of stuff, the course was set up perfectly”.

Always makes you feel those nerves, but I’ve done a really good job of controlling it over the last couple days”.

And helping Fraser is stand-in caddy Jason Wallace and one of Fraser’s closest friends who Fraser says he’s known since he was about 10-years old.

“Obviously having my best mate on my bag to have a chat to and laugh with and laugh at, it’s been good fun,” he said.

“We’re having a great time out there. He’s taken the week off work to come over and caddie for me. It’s a lot of fun out there with him.

“Jason and I have  known each other since we were kids, ten years old. He used to be a professional golfer. He’s not anymore but we’ve been good mates for a long time.

Marcus Fraser salutes the Rio crowd after ending day two one shot clear of the Olympic Games field.

“My regular caddie wasn’t able to come over. So first thing I did was give Jason a call and see if he was available, and it was a pretty quick response we said says.

“He also was born in Corowa while his parents still live back in Corowa as do my parents.

“Jason still strikes it pretty good. He’s still a scratch golfer himself, even though he plays about five times a year. He’s a pretty handy golfer.”

Pieters also knows what it takes to win having won twice last year on the European Tour and with the 24-year old posting seven second day birdies and just two bogeys.

And last year’s Czech Masters and KLM Open winner attributed his good play in changing his putting stroke this week and switching to left-hand low before the tournament.

“I’m rolling the ball well,” he said.  “I see the putts dropping before I hit them, which is key.

“Also the course suits me as it’s very wide while I’m hitting it good. I’m hitting good iron shots.”

But then there’s Stenson!

The ice cool Swede and reigning Open Champion went 36 holes alongside Phil Mickelson at Royal Troon and came out on top by three strokes while in May he captured the BMW International Open in Germany.

“You know Henrik’s going to make a lot of birdies, but I know I’m going to make some birdies on the weekend,” Pieters said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Fraser will feel like he’s playing a different golf course from his two playing companions.

“I probably will feel like I’m playing on my own because they will be about a hundred meters in front of me,” he said.

“Those guys have completely different games and bigger games to what I have. At the end of the day, we play 72 holes and we hit a certain amount of shots on each hole. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

“But then we’re all here for one reason, so if they are winning medals and we’re winning medals, I think everybody’s happy back home.”