Grégory Bourdy ensured the French Tricolore was flying high at the Estoril Open de Portugal after his second round 65 took him to the top of the leaderboard, two shots clear of his closest challenger, Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez –Castaño.
Bourdy established himself as the tournament’s dominant force by adding that second round 65 to his course record 63 of day one, giving the 25 year old from Bordeaux an intimidating halfway total of 14 under par 128 – two ahead of Fernandez –Castaño and three clear of his compatriot Thomas Levet.
England’s Simon Khan moved into fourth place on ten under after a second round 67, with Simon Dyson, Oliver Fisher, Steve Webster and Jean-François Remesy (who matched Bourdy and Pablo Martin’s course record 63) tied together on nine under going into the weekend.
Without a bogey over his opening 36 holes, Bourdy has been in sensational form over the stunning Oitavos Dunes, replicating the kind of performance that saw him secure his maiden European Tour victory at the 2007 Mallorca Classic last October.
“Yesterday’s round was the first time I have shot eight under on The European Tour and it was a little difficult to get going this morning,” said Bourdy.
“I didn’t pick up any shots on the first few holes and I had to be patient. After that I had a great run of four birdies in a row. I didn’t drop any shots today either so I really enjoyed it again. I enjoy this course and the weather has been fantastic.”
Fernandez –Castaño’s second round 66 had it all – an eagle, seven birdies, a bogey and a double bogey to be precise – with the Spaniard saving the best until last with a piercing approach to the 18th green planting itself inches from the hole.
“It was fantastic to birdie the last – a nice way to finish after the tee shot on 17, although I made a fantastic bogey there too,” said Fernandez –Castaño.
“It was a great round – seven birdies and an eagle is fantastic but it had its bad points as well. This is a funny game – anything can happen. We still have two rounds to go and we have to see what the weather will bring.”
Whatever the conditions during the third round, it is easy to envisage the sun continuing to shine on Levet. The 39 year old ended a four year victory drought last weekend by winning the MAPFRE Open de Andalucia and he has continued that winning form in Portugal.
Levet’s seven under par 64 included a quite stunning eagle putt on the par five 16th hole from well over 100 feet.
“That was the second longest putt of my career – the longest that I have made was on the fifth hole at St Andrews when I holed it from 38 metres. That was in 1992 I think during a practice round for the Dunhill Cup. But it was for par that time, not an eagle!” smiled Levet.
“I am playing super golf at the moment. The signs were there that it was coming. I have been playing well one day and then putting great the next, but now it is all coming together and that is a nice feeling to have.
“I am so confident on the greens at the moment that even when I missed three short ones today it didn’t affect me at all because I knew that I was going to make some other ones.”
