THUNDERSTROMS DISRUPT SECOND DAY IN FRENCH CHALLENGE

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Sihwan Kim fired a second round 64 to top the leaderboard at 15 under par during a day disrupted by thunderstorms at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge. 

There is still plenty of golf to be played for those who teed off in the afternoon on day two, and the tournament will resume at 8am on Saturday morning after a total of three suspensions on Friday.

Kim began his day on the back nine, after an initial delay of one and a half hours due to thunderstorms. He remained unaffected however, and proceeded to fire four birdies from the tenth to get off to the ideal start at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil. 

Two further red figures followed on his back nine, before an eagle at the par five eighth, which left Kim one shot clear of Frenchman Edouard Espana.

"I've played two rounds of really solid golf," explained the Orlando- based South Korean. "I didnt really miss too many greens, and made some putts out there. The greens are a little soft, but I have tried to factor that into my game, and although the course doesn't really fit my eye, I was able to get it round.

"I don't really mind this kind of golf, having to make a lot of birdies. At any golf tournament, every round, if I could give myself good looks at birdies inside 20 feet then I'm OK with that. 

"I started off quite rough this year, but I have been playing pretty well since then, and I hope it gets better from here."

Two shots adrift in second is the leading Frenchman, Espana, who himself fired a 66 on day two to finish at 14 under. 

Pars at his first couple of holes on day two saw him hold steady after an opening round of 64, before things really got going with an eagle at the par five 12th.

From there Espana, who is making only his ninth start in four years on the Challenge Tour this week, carded further birdies at the 13th, 18th, fifth and eighth en route to second place. 

Two shots further back at 12 under par is another Kim - this time Chan - who posted six birdies, an eagle, and just a solitary bogey for a second round of 65.

While four players are lined up at 11 under par, with Adrian Otaegui (65) and Andrew Johnstone (69) the only ones finished on that mark. Alongside them are Jason Barnes and Dylan Frittelli who both still have holes to play on Saturday morning. 

Overnight leader Daan Huizing has only completed nine holes of his second round, and a bogey at the eighth has the Dutchman one over par on the day, and in a tie for eighth at ten under overall.

  He is alongside José-Filipe Lima (69) and Lionel Weber (70) who have both completed their second rounds, while Ireland's Niall Kearney is handily placed in the 18th fairway on the same score.

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS