ABU DHABI: Guido Migliozzi and Francesco Molinari are impressing in front of Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald for the second straight week.

The Italians — hopefuls for the contest against the United States outside Rome in September — are tied atop the leaderboard at the Abu Dhabi Championship after two rounds.

They'll take a one-shot lead into the weekend at 10-under overall at Yas Island Links. Play was suspended Friday for fading light with one group still to finish the second round at one of the top events on the European tour schedule, and the first of 2023.

The 40-year-old Molinari's 5-under 67 in the morning included six birdies on his back nine. His 25-year-old countryman joined him in the lead by closing his round of 69 with a hat trick of birdies.

Australia's Jason Scrivener (70) is one stroke back.

Molinari and Migliozzi were tied as top scorers at the Hero Cup last week with 3.5 points out of a possible 4.

Migliozzi had a bogey and a birdie on the front nine before a terrific approach on the 16th set up the first of three consecutive birdies.

'I stayed focused, I tried to stay on my game because I'm feeling great on the golf course, and I was just waiting for some turning point and then I saved that beautiful par on 15,' Migliozzi said. 'After that, I felt a bit better and I could accelerate, push on the accelerator and then beautiful golf shots came on the final three holes.'

Migliozzi had a bogey and a birdie on the front nine before a terrific approach on the 16th set up the first of three consecutive birdies.

'I stayed focused, I tried to stay on my game because I'm feeling great on the golf course and I was just waiting for some turning point and then I saved that beautiful par on 15,' Migliozzi said. 'After that, I felt a bit better and I could accelerate, push on the accelerator and then beautiful golf shots came on the final three holes.'

Molinari started at the 10th and went double bogey-bogey on numbers 16 and 17 after two early birdies before his strong finish.