Welshman David Park, playing in his first European Tour event, found himself two shots clear at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Moroccan Open after a second round of 69.
His 36-hole total of 136, eight under par, is two better than Spain’s Miguel Angel Martin and Venezuela’s Carlos Larrain.
Park, a member of the 1997 Walker Cup team, picked up four birdies during the round, the only blemish coming on the last when his approach spun back off the front of the green. But the leader of the Challenge Tour rankings still felt he let a number of chances slip by.
“It was disappointing to drop a shot on the last,” said the 24-year-old, who is coached by David Llewellyn, winner of the World Cup alongside Ian Woosnam. “I missed a few out there. I had plenty of opportunities but I suppose if you hit the ball well you are going to have more chances.”
Park led for three rounds on his way to winning the Oki Telepizza Challenge earlier this year and has so far recorded five top-ten finishes in his eight starts on the Challenge Tour this season.
Two shots off the pace is Larrain, one of three Venezuelans in the field this week, the others being Juan Nutt and Gilberto Morrales. Indeed it is the first time three Venezuelans have played together in a European Tour event, prompting Larrain to start thinking about a possible Alfred Dunhill Cup team.
“It is great for golf in Venezuela,” said Larrain. “For many years I have been breaking the door down for others to follow. Juan and Gilberto are now followers.”
Larrain played on the main Tour in 1996 but lost his card. After finishing 51st at the Qualifying School last year he has spent most of his time playing the Challenge Tour.
Also on six under after a round of 71 is Martin, who qualified for the 1997 Ryder Cup team but had to withdraw with a wrist injury. The wrist is back to perfect and Martin is starting to find his form again. “I’m happy with that,” he said. “I didn’t do anything special today. I was very consistent but didn’t make any putts. That was the difference today.”
Three players are a shot further back including Robert Coles who equalled the best of the day with a seven birdie 66. Coles, who discovered he was a diabetic at the end of last year, lost his Tour card last season and then as he went to Qualifying School to try to regain his playing privileges he was involved in a car crash which sidelined him for eight weeks. He is now attempting to win back a place on the main Tour by playing the Challenge Tour unless, he says, his gets lucky in the few events he can play on the main Tour.
The cut fell at two over par 146 with 66 players qualifying for weekend.
