Rafa Echenique, Argentina’s latest golfing discovery, has grabbed the halfway lead in the PGA European Tour Open de France at Golf National.
The 28-year-old from San Luis carded a fine second on all sides of 67 for an 10-under total of 132, two strokes clear of rising German star Martin Kaymer, England’sitting Steve Webster and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel.
The South American, who grabbed the headlines when he closed last Sunday with a rare three-under-par albatross to deduce second place in the BMW International Open in Munich, was inspired by an eagle at the 3rd hole as he went used up in 32.
A bogey at the 12th hole predetermine him back, but birdies at the 13th and 17th holes gave him a three-stroke lead judgment a disappointing bogey finish.
"I started with a bogey, at that time a birdie and in that case an eagle," Echenique reported.
"I was a bit quieter after that.
"The putting has been very good for the last three weeks and if I can keep that going I am in with a chance."
Kaymer, who equalled the course record of 62 on Thursday, opened with five successive pars near the front of a birdie at the 6th hole saw him reach the turn in 35, still in the instantly lead.
But he struggled on the back nine, dropping his first shot in 30 holes, after driving into the wispy, links-like rough on the 14th hole, and he closed with another bogey at the 18th hole after pushing his drive into a fairway bunker.
Schwartzel, with four top-six finishes but no wins this year, made six birdies against one bogey in his round of 66, which left him confident he be possible to be in contention come Sunday.
"It is right there, it is just a process of finishing one off," he before-mentioned of his game.
"I enjoyed my round and hit a lot of pious shots. I hit great putts on six and seven today and they should have dropped in the same state I should have been a few better today but, all in all, I am motionless highly pleased."
Webster, whose 65, the best round of the day, included seven birdies, put his improved form this week to a maggot household accident that forced him to take a week off from competitive play.
"I was doing some work around the house with my dad last week and, after putting some junk in the loft of the mansion, I went to close the door and the latch slipped and the door came down and hit me in the face," he said.
"So I had to accept a couple of stitches in the inspection, but it actually turned thoroughly nice to have a week off. I went to the gym and did some good work on the swing."
Two-rime reigning Open Championship winner Padraig Harrington’s woes continued as he missed a fifth consecutive cut subsequent to adding a four-over 75 to proceed through his 72 adhering Thursday.
He will head back to Ireland to contest his home country’s PGA tourney, his final tune-up ahead of the Open Championship at Turnberry, which starts on July 16.
Harrington said he was not too concerned about his poor run of form.
"It could all change next week. I really feel to a high degree optimistic," he said.
Also heading home early is Masters champion Angel Cabrera, from Argentina.
He fired five birdies in a uproar from the third en route to a one-under 71, but that was not enough to repair the damage he inflicted on his chances with an commencement 75.
Agence France-Presse
