Adri Arnaus of Spain and England’s Ben Evans sit on eight under par and will each take a share of the 36-hole lead into the weekend at the Cordon Golf Open.
On a wild Day Two that saw six different players lead or co-lead at some point throughout the round, both Arnaus and Evans steadily pieced together quality scores around the 6, 420-yard Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André.
A red-hot back-nine, complete with five birdies and no bogeys catapulted Arnaus up the leaderboard — initially into second place behind then leader, and fellow countryman, Daniel Berna Manzanares.
When Berna Manzanares double-bogeyed his final hole, Arnaus enjoyed a brief stint alone at the top, but was promptly joined by Evans who birdied the 18thfor his second-consecutive 66 and a share of the lead.
Despite being the shortest course European Challenge Tour players will face all season, after the round, both players spoke of how difficult the setup was.
“It’s really tricky, honestly,” said Arnaus. “I feel like it’s a fair course, but you have to be on top of your game in every aspect and that’s what makes it great. You can not be lacking in any part of your game, you’ve got to be complete, which is why it’s so hard too.”
“You’ve got to get it in play off the tee,” Evans added. “The fairways are starting to run more, and you feel like you can go low, but you can lose a ball really quickly out here.”
The Englishman knows a thing or two about playing the Pléneuf, France course. In 2014, he finished in a tie for fourth place at this same event and in his first trip back since, the 31 year old has implemented the same strategic approach.
“There are a lot of tee shots, where, because it’s running people are going to hit two-irons,” he said. “But if you actually take a driver, it leaves you a much simpler shot in to the greens, which is what I’ve done a little bit.”
The leading duo will be hotly pursued by a trio of players — Jonathan Caldwell, Stuart Manley and Berna Manzanares — who sit only one stroke behind.
Manley, who won in France earlier this year at the Hauts de France Golf Open, has been a mainstay at the top of Challenge Tour leaderboards all season, and the Road to Ras Al Khaimah Number Five could be poised to pick up his second trophy on French soil if he continues with his current form.
“My game feels in a good spot at the moment,” he said. “My putters hot — my putter has been hot all year to be honest. I’m enjoying my golf, and I think that’s key, I’ve been in contention a lot and I’m just really enjoying it.”
In all, 65 players survived the cut of one over par and will advance to the weekend. Low-Frenchman honours are currently shared by Damien Perrier and Jérôme Lando Casanova, who sit three shots back of the leaders in tenth place on five under par.
Day Three of the Cordon Golf Open will begin tomorrow at 8:00 am local time, with co-leaders Arnaus and Evans set to go at 1:06 pm.
