Ugo Coussaud leads the English Trophy presented by Rocket Yard Sports Marketing but has a number of players who are still to finish their second rounds breathing down his neck.
The Frenchman posted a classy seven under par 65 to claim the lead on 13 under par at Frilford Heath Golf Club, but with play brought to an end by darkness for the second day in succession, first round co-leaders Filip Mruzek of the Czech Republic and Scotland’s Dan Young are just one back with holes still to play.
The duo share second place with England’s Marco Penge, who posted a seven under 65 to soar into contention, but it was Coussaud who was left with the lead and left happy with his efforts after a long day in Oxfordshire.
“I played 27 holes today, which was a proper effort, so I’m very happy with that,” he said.
“I think it suits the good long game players, especially the ones who hit the ball quite far. If you hit a good drive, you have a lot of wedges and I succeeded in that this morning and yesterday. This was my game for the last two days.”
The Road to Mallorca Number 34 is yet to win on the European Challenge Tour but is no stranger to being in the mix and knows he will need to be at his best to get over the line this weekend.
“I know I’m going to have to go low if I want to be close to the win,” he said. “A lot of guys are ten under and better so I’m just trying to play as well as I can and we’ll see.
“I would be lying if I said I don’t have Mallorca on my mind, but it’s not my main focus. I’m just trying to play good golf and trying to have fun on the golf course because it’s been five long weeks. These last two days have been fun for me.”
Young and Mruzek will return to finish their second rounds on Saturday as they look to overhaul Coussaud, and they, alongside Penge, are one shot ahead of Switzerland’s Jeremy Freiburghaus, Frenchman Adrien Saddier and England’s Sam Hutsby, whose eight under 64 was the low round of the day, in a share of fifth on 11 under.
The second round will resume at 8:20am on Saturday October 15, with 45 players still to complete their second rounds. The projected cut is currently at five under par.
