European Challenge Tour

Plenty of Gane and pain for Chris
as he goes three shots clear

from STEVE TODD, European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Englishman Chris Gane continued his hot streak with the putter as he ended a gruelling day on a high to extend his lead to three strokes at the AGF-Allianz EurOpen de Lyon.
Gane added a seven under par 66 to his superb opening round of 63 to move to 15 under par 129 after playing 36 holes in one day because of Thursday’s rain delay which saw only four-and-a-half hours of play on the opening day.
The Londoner is clear of countryman John Morgan and Italian Alessandro Tadini, who shot second rounds of 65 and 66 respectively to move to 12 under par 132.
A run of four consecutive birdies, starting on the sixth hole, was the springboard for Gane’s second fine round in less than 12 hours at the Golf de Gouverneur.
That sequence was the perfect recovery after he had bogeyed the second hole – his first dropped shot of the tournament.
The 34 year old, chasing his first top 20 finish of the season, carded seven birdies in total in his second round then admitted he was shattered after a draining day on the course.
He said: “I’m pretty happy to shoot 15 under par in one day. I’m dead on my feet now though. I’m certainly looking forward to relaxing tonight.
“I putted nicely again in the second round. The greens had a lot of traffic on them today with some golf this morning and then 36 holes passing through. It meant they were not as true by the end of the day but I putted really well.
“It was a bit of a test of stamina out there but I was swinging well which helps. The guys playing their second round tomorrow will have the fresh greens so we will have to see what happens.
“I have been playing nicely but not shooting the numbers. When you are putting well that’s when you make those four or five extra shots.
“It’s been a slow start to the year for me. I didn’t go to South America or Kenya, then I played well at St Omer but apart from that I’ve been in the also-rans. The good thing about this tour is that one good week can get you right back in the top 20. I’ve got a few tournaments coming up and this would be a nice time to start playing well.”
Morgan’s round included an eagle, six birdies and just the one bogey while Tadini, who won the Oceanico Group Pro Am Challenge in May, carded six birdies for his flawless 66.
Another player chasing his second win of the season, England’s David Horsey, is also in contention on 11 under par after adding a 68 to his opening 65.
Horsey, of course, came into the tournament in a confident mood after sealing his place in The Open Championship after coming through qualifying at Sunningdale on Monday, when he also played 36 holes in one day.
He said: “I try to keep in shape so it wasn’t too bad for me and I played well over 36 holes on Monday at Open qualifying. The course is very scorable and I’m happy to be up there.”
The remaining half of the draw will complete their second round on Saturday morning.
LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
(Not yet complete)
Par 144 (2 x 72)
129 C Gane (Eng) 63 66.
132 J Morgan (Eng) 67 65, A Tadini (Ita) 66 66.
133 D Horsey (Eng) 65 68, G Maybin (Nir) 69 64.
134 M Higley (Eng) 68 66, G Lockerbie (Eng) 64 70.
135 T Cruz (Por) 67 68, R De Sousa (Sui) 66 69, B Mason (Eng) 67 68, B Miarka (Ger) 67 68, G Canizares (Spa) 69 66.
Other totals:
141 S O'Hara (Sco) 71 70.
145 A McArthur (Sco) 72 73.
147 L Saltman (Sco) 76 71.

Positions of other Scots when they resume second rounds:
George Murray: Six under par after 21 holes.
Greig Hutcheon: Five under par after 33 holes.
David Drysdale: Three under par after 33 holes.
Scott Jamieson: One over par after 24 holes.
Eric Ramsay: Two over par after 21 holes.