The ‘yellow jersey’ was passed - metaphorically speaking - from one Frenchman to another in the inaugural Nordic Open at Simon’s Golf Club, Copenhagen, as Gregory Havret overhauled his fellow countryman and first round leader, Raphaël Jacquelin, to take a two stroke advantage into the weekend.
Havret shot a second round of 63 – one more than Jacquelin’s record-breaking effort the previous day – to claim top spot with a 13 under par total of 131 as Jacquelin required ten strokes more than he did on the first day.
The 26 year old from Bussy St Georges in the Paris suburbs took advantage of blisteringly hot conditions and a fast running course to card nine birdies, and the Frenchman has yet to drop a shot going in the last 36 holes.
After winning the Italian Open two years ago Havret struggled to sustain that momentum and finished 134th on the Volvo Order of Merit in 2002, with only his two year exemption protecting his card. Last winter he changed coaches, hiring former European Tour player, Fabrice Tarnaud, to help them make changes to his game.
“I was struggling after winning in Italy” he noted. “I wanted to make my game more consistent and did a few things wrong. Then in December I started working with Fabrice and we began a new routine and things are improving now.
“I changed my coach and my entourage. I work out with a friend of Fabrice’s at his home in the south of France and it seems to be having the desired effect.”
Watching his good friend, Jacquelin, shoot 62 on Thursday also provided him with the perfect inspiration. Five successive cuts made and four top 20 finishes secured Jacquelin’s card for 2004 and Havret said: “Just a few months ago we were both struggling and he had some great finishes. Golf is like that – full of ups and downs – but we have kept trying together and maybe now it’s my turn.”
Havret opened up a two stroke lead over three players, England’s David Gilford and David Lynn and Sweden’s Patrik Sjöland. Gilford, without a European Tour victory since 1994, shot a 67 for 133; Sjöland, without a success since 2000, signed for a 64 and Lynn, without a Tour win despite some recent close calls, took 66.
Two of the big draws at Simon’s GC, Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and Denmark’s Thomas Björn, both did enough to suggest they can galvanise them for a big weekend push. Montgomerie went out in 30 on his way to compiling a round of 65 for 135 while Björn is just one stroke behind on 135 after a second round 69.
Montgomerie’s only error was a bogey six at the par five seventh, sandwiched in between a run of six birdies, and that three-putt caused him to nurse a sense of frustration afterwards. He said: “The par fives are killing me this year. I don’t know what’s wrong. I needed to hole a good birdie putt on the 18th to prevent me playing them in one over par again.
“However this is a good position for me. Ideal in fact. Obviously I needed another low score but I just have to hole some putts over the weekend and I should be right there. I am looking forward to it.”
Likewise, Björn was satisfied to be poised for a charge in front of his adoring supporters and he commented: “I am playing well enough but this is probably the worst I’ve putted for six to eight weeks. I am playing solid golf. I just need one low round over the weekend to get myself in there and when I do that, I normally do well.”
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell became the 14th player on The European Tour to record a hole in one when he aced the 14th hole from 231 yards using a three iron. That shot earned McDowell an Audi Cabriolet A4 car worth approximately £60,000. It also ensured that last year’s Scandinavian Masters champion will be playing at the weekend as he finished right on the cut line of three under par, 141.
