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Frenchman Bourdy goes two shots clear in Portuguese Open

04/04/2008

Gregory Bourdy has gone two shots clear in the lead of the Portuguese Open after shooting a second round of six-under-par.

The Frenchman started the day tied with Spaniard Pablo Martin after the pair both broke the course record on the opening day of the tournament.

But while Martin struggled during his second round Bourdy continued to flourish and he has yet to drop at stroke on his way to a score of 14-under at the halfway stage.

Bourdy made two birdies in the first 12 holes but a run of four consecutive birdies between the 13th and 16th holes propelled him clear of Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

The Spaniard recovered from a double-bogey at the fifth hole and a bogey at the sixth to make five birdies on the back nine. This pushed him into second place on 12-under, one shot ahead of Frenchman Thomas Levet.

Englishman Simon Khan is in fourth place, four shots behind Bourdy, after carding a round of four-under on day two that was only marred by two dropped shots on the back nine.

Compatriots Simon Dyson and Oliver Fisher are one more shot back, tied for fifth place on nine-under.

Bourdy is aiming to secure his second European Tour event after winning in Mallorca last year. Despite his excellent first round the Frenchman said he struggled to get his game going again on day two.

He said: "I didn't pick up any shots on the first few holes and I had to be patient. After that I had a great run of four birdies in a row. I didn't drop any shots today either so I really enjoyed it again."