Larrazabal and Lynn lead in France

6/27/2008

A brilliant chip-in birdie three from the greenside bunker at Le Golf National’s notorious 18th hole helped David Lynn into a share of the Open de France ALSTOM lead with Pablo Larrazabal, while star names Cabrera, Montgomerie and Westwood all moved into contention to set-up a brilliant weekend’s golf.

If the weekend action can emulate the thrills and spills of the second round in Versailles, the 2008 Open de France ALSTOM will be unforgettable.

Larrazabal, the first round leader, set the tone for the day as he struck the first tee shot off the day. Inspired by his home country’s football performance in the Euro 2008 Championships on Thursday evening, the young Spaniard posted a one under par 70 to set the clubhouse lead of seven under par 135 that only Lynn could match with his superb bunker shot on the last green as the sun set over Versailles.

In between the leaders, Cabrera, Montgomerie and Westwood all strutted their stuff to move within two strokes of the leaders on five under, alongside Ignacio Garrido and Peter Lawrie, while defending champion Graeme Storm joined Paul Broadhurst, Søren Hansen and Shiv Kapur on four under and within striking distance of the oldest National Open on continental Europe.

Kapur provided another of the day’s highlights with his superb eight under par 63. Starting the day with a bogey to fall back to five over par and in serious danger of missing the halfway cut, the Indian produced a marvellous performance to pick up ten shots in 14 holes to give himself a realistic chance of winning the tournament.

Leaderboard – Round 2:

1. Pablo Larrazabal                 ESP  65 70 135 - 7
    David Lynn                         ENG  70 65 135 - 7
3. Angel Cabrera                    ARG  67 70 137 - 5
    Ignacio Garrido                   ESP  68 69 137 - 5
    Peter Lawrie                        IRL  66 71 137 - 5
    Colin Montgomerie             SCO  69 68 137 - 5
    Lee Westwood                    ENG  69 68 137 - 5
8. Paul Broadhurst                  ENG  69 69 138 - 4
    Soren Hansen                    DEN  69 69 138 - 4
    Shiv Kapur                         IND  75 63 138 - 4
    Greame Storm                    ENG  68 70 138 - 4

Source: European Tour