DS Automobiles Italian Open - Day two digest

Everything you need to know from Friday's second round at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

The crowds were treated to two aces, while the French flag flew high at the top of the leaderboard on day two of the 2023 DS Automobiles Italian Open.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday's second round at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

Allez les Bleus

France's DP World Tour stars shone brightly on Friday, with Matthieu Pavon still leading the way by two shots at the halfway stage after following up his opening 63 with a 70. His countryman Julien Guerrier was in a tie for second courtesy of his second-round 69, while French Ryder Cup hopeful Victor Perez finished his 68 with an eagle to sit two shots further back.

Amazing aces

Shubhankar Sharma holed his tee-shot at the par-three 17th in the morning, achieving the incredible feat from 217 yards with a five iron...

Then Thriston Lawrence got the second hole-in-one of the day on the seventh to earn himself a DS 4 PURETECH Automatic BASTILLE Business car. Well done, guys!

Bjørn goes close to extraordinary eagle

Playing at the venue that will host the 2023 Ryder Cup, 2018 Captain Thomas Bjørn produced a magic moment on day two. The 52-year-old came agonisingly close to opening his round with a hole-out eagle on the par-four first but had to settle for a tap-in birdie instead.

Paul's perfect judgement

Sit back, relax and enjoy this superb approach shot from Yannik Paul at the 12th...

Defending champion withdraws due to injury

Last year's winner Robert MacIntyre had to withdraw ahead of his second round on Friday due to a back injury. The two-time DP World Tour champion is now targeting a quick recovery ahead of the U.S. PGA Championship later this month. World Number 91 MacIntyre wrote on Twitter: "Gutted to withdraw this morning from the Italian Open with a back strain. Hopefully nothing too serious. Now for a week of rest before the PGA Championship."