Italian Gregorio De Leo muscled his way to the front of the Turkish Airlines Open and signing the praise of this Aussie-born caddy as he targets a maiden DP World Tour title.
De Leo posted five birdies and just one bogey in his second round 68 to his opening 69 for a one shot lead at seven-under on the host Gloria course at the National Golf Club in Belek, Antalya.
The 26-year-old was briefly joined at that mark by afternoon starters Alejandro Del Rey and Jens Dantorp, but they both fell back into a tie for second alongside Kazuma Kobori and Sam Bairstow on six under.
FLYING FIRST CLASS @TurkishAirlines ….
As @T_A_Golf front-running Gregorio De Leo singles out his -born caddy Adam Drummond for special praise
“Adam and I started working together in Australia five months ago and we’re a good team“
Read:… pic.twitter.com/wncZynhKKr
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) May 1, 2026
De Leo secured his first 36-hole lead on the DP World Tour and is now chasing a maiden win after regaining his playing privileges at Qualifying School after a rookie campaign which featured two top-five finishes.
A former Alps Tour Order of Merit winner in 2022, he was grateful to his Aussie-born caddie Adam Drummond after a late arrival meant he went without a pre-tournament practice round.
“It’s been tricky because I got here on Wednesday afternoon, so I didn’t even have a practice round,“ said De Leo.
“I didn’t know how the course was playing so I’m really grateful for my caddy Adam. He really helped me out yesterday and today. We started working together in Australia five months ago and we’re a good team“.
Indeed, in their nine events together since the end of last year De Leo’s had Drummond calling the shots for nine DP World Tour events, making the cut in seven and a best effort of T9th at the Qatar Masters and the Italian currently lying 64th on the Race to Dubai money list.
First-round leader Mikael Lindberg sits at five under in solo sixth after a second round 73, while defeniding champion Martin Couvra was among those to make the cut on the number at one over.
Asian Swing leader Jordan Gumberg also progressed through to the weekend after making a closing birdie. The Turkish Airlines Open is the fourth of four counting events on the Asian Swing and the top three on the Rankings at the end of the week will earn a place at next month’s U.S. PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.
The third round will get under way at 7:00am local time, with De Leo teeing it up in the final group alongside Del Rey and Kobori at 9:10am.
