England's Paul Broadhurst may have compared his three under par 69 to a trip to the dentist, but he still managed to stretch his lead to two shots in the Algarve Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos. Last year's winner Broadhurst, 40, who began the day one ahead of the field, finished with an 11-under total of 133 to lead Frenchman Christian Cévaër by two strokes going into the weekend.
Cévaër, who matched Broadhurst’s second round 69, is bidding to make it back-to-back French wins after compatriot Jean Van de Velde's success in last week's Madeira Island Open Caixa Geral de Depositos.
Sweden’s Christian Nilsson survived a lost-ball timing incident on the 12th on his way to a 71 that left him third on eight under 136. Two more Swedes, Jarmo Sandelin and Mattias Eliasson, are a stroke further back.
Broadhurst, who fired six birdies on Friday after opening his campaign with a course record equaling 64, was not entirely happy with his game.
“I wouldn’t say that it was one of the all-time great 69s – it felt difficult. It felt like a visit to the dentist at times! It was tough. I started off ok – I holed an absolute monster putt on the second – it must have been about 70 feet. I then birdied the fourth and everything was going along nicely until I hit an absolute shocker of the fifth tee that went miles right.
“I made bogey there and from then on it was a bit of a struggle. I hit some decent shots but it didn’t feel how I wanted it to, but I persevered and got it round and the last few holes it felt like everything was into the wind so clubbing was impossible.
“This is a tough track – it’s not an easy course. You have to hit it straight but if I do well then I have every chance because I am putting well and my short game is pretty good. The irons have got better as the week’s gone on, so I have just got to hang in there and hope that the bad shots are not too costly.
“I said that 13 under would be the winning score this week and if I can make two 71s that’ll be 13 under. I’m in a good position to murder that if I play well but that’s easier said than done.”
Broadhurst is trying to equal the feat of former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance, son of Broadhurst's coach Bob, by becoming only the second player to win two successive Portuguese Opens.
"If it was any other tournament and I hadn't shot 64 in the first round I might not be quite so determined," said Broadhurst. "I don't want to give the trophy away too easily."
While the former Ryder Cup player, whose triumph last year was his first for 10 years, is targeting his sixth title, Cévaër is chasing his second after winning the 2004 Canaries Open.
Rookie Nilsson said he had found a lost ball inside the permitted five minutes after being questioned by The European Tour’s Chief Referee at Le Meridien Penina Golf and Resort, Andy McFee. Nilsson’s marker – England’s Tom Whitehouse – agreed that the Swede had found is ball within five minutes, allowing the Swede to complete his second round 71.
Paul Lawrie of Scotland is in a five man group in sixth place on six under 138. Lawrie has reverted to the putting stroke that won him the 1999 Open Championship as he searches for his first victory since 2002. Last year the Scot triple bogeyed the 71st hole in Estoril to lose to Broadhurst by a stroke.