Drysdale battles the wind

and rain to stay in hunt

By PAUL SYMES
Challenge Tour Press Officer
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, the professional at Waterloo Golf Club, has a battle on his hands to fend off a trio of challengers which includes England’s Andrew Butterfield at the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne.
Colsaerts carded a five under par round of 65 on the second day at Golf BlueGreen de Pléneuf Val André to lead by two shots from Butterfield, Sweden’s Andreas Högberg, and rising star Estanisloa Goya of Argentina and by three from a group including Scotland's David Drysdale.
Londoner Butterfield, who moved into contention with his second consecutive round of 68, said: “This game’s all about consistency, and I guess you can’t get much more consistent than that.”
Butterfield credits a change of coach in his upturn in fortunes, and leader Colsaerts has also recently been making wholesale changes to his set-up.
The Belgian, seeking his maiden Challenge Tour title, said: “I should’ve changed my grip years ago, because it wasn’t really working for me. I’ve done a lot of work and practice on it over the winter, but I still didn’t expect to do so well here, because I haven’t played competitively for a few months. Maybe I should take a break more often!”
One player who is match sharp is Goya, currently the leader in the Rankings after one win and two top five finishes in his last three tournaments.
The young Argentine, playing his first event in Europe as a professional, said: “I hope to follow Andres Romero and Angel Cabrera onto The European Tour – that is my dream.”
David Drysdale retained the early clubhouse lead after a battling round of 72.
With morning conditions more in keeping with his native Berwickshire than Brittany, Drysdale was unable to repeat the fireworks he produced yesterday.
Instead, the 33 year old – seeking his third European Challenge Tour title – had to settle for a two over par 70.
Drysdale said: “It was tough going out there, what with the wind, the showers and the difficult pin positions. With conditions improving, I would imagine there will be a few low scores in the afternoon. But at least I’ve given myself half a chance going into the final two rounds.”
SECOND-ROUND SCORES
Par 140 (2 x 70)
134 N Colsaerts (Bel) 69 65.
136 A Högberg (Swe) 68 68, A Butterfield (Eng) 68 68, E Goya (Arg) 70 66.
137 D Drysdale (Sco) 65 72, R Rock (Eng) 68 69, A Tampion (Aus) 71 66, D Horsey (Eng) 68 69.
138 C-E Russo (Fra) 66 72, M Higley (Eng) 72 66, M Hoey (NIr) 66 72, J McLeary (Sco) 68 70. 139 S Davis (Eng) 69 70, J Van Hauwe (Fra) 70 69, S P Webster (Eng) 68 71, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 71 68.
140 J Garcia (Esp) 71 69, R Ramsay (Sco) 70 70, G Maybin (NIr) 72 68, M Dieu (Fra) 71 69, A Tadini (Ita) 72 68, J Haegmann (Swe) 66 74, A Gee (Eng) 70 70, G Boyd (Eng) 71 69, N Vanhootegem (Bel) 73 67.
141 G Clark (Eng) 65 76, G Davies (Eng) 69 72, M Pilkington (Wal) 70 71; C Brazillier (Fra) 69 72; C Gane (Eng) 70 71; S Benson (Eng) 72 69; D Park (Wal) 71 70; S Son-Houi (Fra) 70 71; R Treis (Ger) 71 70.
142 L Dodd (Eng) 73 69; C Moriarty (Ire) 68 74; G Murray (Sco) 68 74; A Mörk (Fra) 68 77; A Bruschi (Ita) 69; M Zions (Aus) 67 75; J Theunis (Bel) 70 72; J-N Billot (Fra) 71 71; N Joakimides (Fra) 71 71; R Coles (Eng) 72 70; T Remkes (Ned) 73 69.
143 A Marshall (Eng) 68 75; R Bland (Eng) 68 75, S O’Hara (Sco) 69 74, E Ramsay (Sco) 73 70, M Thorp (Nor) 74 69; A S Hansen (Den) 71 72; C Menut (Fra) 71 72; T Feyrsinger (Aut) 72 71; K Sullivan (Wal) 74 69; J Guerrier (Fra) 68 75; O Whiteley (Eng) 71 72. F Henge (Swe) 71 72. 144 T Schuster (Ger) 71 73, J Xanthopoulous (Fra) 70 74; B Mason (Eng) 71 73; S Delagrange (Fra) 73 71; A Snobeck (Fra) 75 69; G A Clark (Eng) 71 73; G Canizares (Esp) 75 69; S Browne (Ire) 75 69; J Clément (Sui) 72 72; W Besseling (Ned) 69 75; R McEvoy (Eng) 69 75; M Reale (Ita) 73 71.
MISSED THE CUT
145 M Cort (Eng) 69 76; A Bernadet (Fra) 72 73; K Baraka (Ger) 71 74; J Ruth (Eng) 72 73; M F Haastrup (Den) 73 72; F Cupillard (Fra) 74 70; T Milford (Eng) 70 75; T Dier (Ger) 72 73; L Gagli (Ita) 74 71; I van Weerelt (Ned) 74 71; J Little (Eng) 69 76; M Cort (Eng) 69 76; B Evans (Eng) 70 75; R Cabrera Bello (Esp) 71 74.
146 A Bossert (Sui) 75 71; F Calmels (Fra) 75 71; J Huldahl (Den) 72 74; M Quiros (Esp) 74 72; M King (Eng) 70 76; G Acosta (Arg) 74 72; P Del Grosso (Arg) 75 71.
147 C Farrelly (Ire) 70 77; C Dubois (Fra) 72 75; I Goroneskoul (Fra) 72 75; J Quesne (Fra) 71 76; J Hepworth (Eng) 74 73; D Carter (Eng) 76 71.
148 P Rowe (Eng) 74 74; O David (Fra) 76 72; B-T Lecuona (Fra) 72 76; J Axgren (Swe) 75 73; D Wardrop (Eng) 76 72; C Del Moral (Esp) 74 74; A McArthur (Sco) 73 75; L Corfield (Eng) 77 71; M McGeady (Irl) 70 78; L Bond (Wal) 70 78; J M Hoyos (Col) 74 74; S Jeppesen (Swe) 74 74; M Farry (Fra) 73 75.
149 R Steiner (Aut) 72 77; L Matthews (Wal) 71 78; M Crespi (Ita) 71 78.
150 T Dykes (Wal) 75 75; R Bechu (Fra) 71 79; N Walker (Eng) 78 72; A Taupin (Fra) 74 76; A Andersson (Swe) 75 75.
151 J Foret (Fra) 74 77; R De Sousa (Sui) 77 74; J-M Gougeon (Fra) 73 78.
152 G Plumet (Fra) 73 79; J Parron 76 76; J Parron (Esp) 76 76.
153 J Quesne (Fra) 75 78; R Eyraud (Fra) 75 78; E Chamaulte (Fra) 77 76, F Schoettel (Fra) 79 74.
154 L Brovold (Nor) 76 78; J P Cixous (Fra) 77 77; M D Smith (Eng) 77 77; R Swane (Ned) 79 75; D Ulrich (Sui) 80 74; J Heath (Eng) 74 80.
155 T Cruz (Por) 76 79; B Bozio (Fra) 72 83; D Perrier (Fra) 76 79.
157 A Willey (Eng) 80 77; A Joudar (Mar) 80 77; K Le Sager (Fra) 77 80; Y Petit-Dubousquet (Fra) 81 76.
158 M Bliss (Can) 79 79, E Chaudouet (Fra) 80 78.
159 B Coathalem (Fra) 76 83;
Retired - E Rush (Eng), D Higgins (Ire), G Emerson (Eng), R Guillard (Fra).