Romain ruling again as three share Rolex lead

Road to Oman Rankings leader Romain Langasque showed why he has been the stand-out golfer on the European Challenge Tour this year by moving into a share of the halfway lead at the Rolex Trophy.

The Frenchman’s second round of 67 at Golf Club de Genève took him to 11 under par and level with Bernd Ritthammer and Sam Walker – who only booked his place in the prestigious event with victory at last week’s Vierumӓki Finnish Challenge.

But for a closing bogey, Langasque would be leading outright, but the 21 year old was delighted to be in contention yet again this season, and enjoyed this week’s unique format for the Challenge Tour which sees the professionals play with a team of three amateurs.

“It was a really good day today,” he said. “This week is my first time playing a real tournament with the Pro-Am format and I really enjoyed it – the round was really good and I am very happy.

“It’s different, and it can be a bit slow so you have to be patient, but, like yesterday and like last week, I played really well, very rarely off the fairways or the greens, and holed some good putts.

“I didn’t find it hard to play slower. You talk with your playing partners, with your caddie, I walk a little bit slower so that when I get to my ball it is my turn to play and I can play the shot more quickly at my normal speed.

“It was great playing with my team, I think I was really lucky to have them today. They were good players, but they were also three crazy guys so we were smiling and laughing all the time, and I hope the next days will be the same.

“The approach will be the same as today – just play my game and do my best. I really like this course because you can drive near the green and have some options on your next shots. I’m really confident with my swing at the moment, so we will have to wait and see.

“This tournament, and the hospitality, is amazing, it’s crazy. The food at the dinner last night was really, really good, and the organisation of everything is great.

“Rolex is one of the best watch companies in the world, and you can see with the organisation this week why they are one of the best, because everything is perfect – we can say maybe this is like the Masters of the Challenge Tour, because you can’t say anything bad with the preparation of the course and the running of the tournament, it’s amazing.”

Walker, too, finished with a bogey but the Englishman has now led or co-led for four successive rounds on the Challenge Tour, having topped the leaderboard after round three of his victory in Finland and also after an opening 62 yesterday.

Germany’s Ritthammer – winner of the Made in Denmark Challenge – Presented by Ejner Hessel in June – made six birdies in a bogey-free round to join the leaders.

One shot further back, in a tie for fourth place, are Spaniard Pep Angles – whose four under par round of 68 included an eagle and five birdies – and Ryan Fox.

New Zealander Fox, who this time last week was representing his country at the Olympic Games, shot the joint-best round of the day, a bogey-free 65 that was matched by Dylan Frittelli and Joël Stalter – taking them both to eight under par and in a tie for sixth place with 36 holes still to play.