FRANCE’S JULIEN Quesne leads the Omega European Masters after he shot a superb second-round 65 yesterday at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland.
The 32-year-old moved ahead of England’s Danny Willett by a shot with a six-under-par round that left him on nine under overall.
Quesne, who claimed his maiden European Tour title at the Open de Andalucia Costa del Sol in March, fired seven birdies as he edged into the lead.
“I took a lot of pleasure from how I played today,” he said after his round.
“I hit so many good shots; I managed to stay calm and I holed a lot of putts.
“My final round in Andalucia was the best of my career, because it was under a lot of pressure. But today was probably my second best, because the conditions were very tough and I hardly missed a shot.
“So I’m very happy.”
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie scored 66 to move into third ahead of Englishman David Howell, who mixed four birdies with three bogeys at Crans-sur-Sierre in the Swiss Alps.
Lawrie, part of the European Ryder Cup Team and the winner of last week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, was satisfied with his current form as he prepares for the Ryder Cup.
He said: “I played lovely again today, hit a lot of good putts – not all of them went in, but a fair few did. So I’m very happy with my day’s work, despite the weather.
“A lot of guys don’t like playing in the cold and the wet, but that plays into the hands of people like me who don’t mind it.
“I’ve had a couple of decent sleeps, so I feel fine and raring to go. There’s a nice, relaxed feel to this week anyway, which always helps.”
Tommy Fleetwood and Robert Coles were also six-under par after the first two rounds, tied with Howell and Australian Marcus Fraser.
Frenchman Romain Wattel finished five-under par for the day and was tied for eighth with Scotland’s Richie Ramsay and three others at the end of the day’s play.
Ramsay completed the course in a three-under 68 with five birdies and two dropped shots.
Overnight leader Gregory Bourdy had a miserable day, however. The Frenchman picked up a shot at the first but carded five bogeys to score a four-over-par 75 and drop four shots off the lead after his fine opening round of 63.
Michael Hoey leads the Irish challenge on 138, five shots off Quesne, after a three-under-par round of 68.
Two shots further behind is Shane Lowry after his 71 left him seven shots off the leader. Darren Clarke improved on his opening round of 72 by two shots, to leave him just inside the cut-off point.
