Date: June 15, 2013
Author: Omnisport

Dinwiddie takes share of the lead in Lumbres

Robert Dinwiddie scored an impressive five-under-par 66 to take a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Najeti Open on Friday. After suffering a frustrating first day, where four birdies were countered by five dropped shots, Dinwiddie played a flawless second round, as the strong winds from the first day subsided at the Aa Saint Omer Golf Club in Lumbres, France. The Englishman&aposs card was bogey-free as he climbed 14 places on the leaderboard, to join early pacesetter Tjaart van der Walt at four under par. After starting the day with four straight pars, he picked up his first shot at the 325-yard par-four fifth, before another birdie at eight meant he went out in 34. He followed with consecutive birdies at 14 and 15, before a two at the par-three 17th saw him come home in 32. “I played really steady so I&aposm happy,” Dinwiddie said. “I played just as well yesterday but the weather helped (today). “I know the course very well and I have a lot of good feelings around here. I did not think I would be leading after the afternoon but I knew I was in a good position no matter what.” The 30-year-old revealed he almost had to withdraw through injury earlier in the week, and was happy to find himself in contention ahead of the weekend. “Considering I didn&apost think I would be teeing it up, after taking a bad step on Tuesday morning and damaging a bad disc in my back, it was great,” he added. “I couldn&apost hit a ball on Wednesday so I honestly thought I had no chance, but I just iced it and took a lot of anti-inflammatories and recovered so I&aposm delighted with how I&aposve played.” Elsewhere, Van der Walt looked very comfortable on a front nine that yielded three birdies, and one bogey at the ninth. He immediately picked that shot back up at the 10th, but further bogeys at 12, 15 and 17 meant he shot a two-under back nine to finish the day on level par. “I played really solid in the first few holes and it seemed no matter where I was on the green I made putts,” Van der Walt said. “I bogeyed the par five ninth though with a six iron in my hand and that took the momentum out of my round a little. “I didn&apost hit bad shots but my chipping around the greens was not great and all my bogeys were from next to the green. I&aposm disappointed but I&aposm still in there and I was shocked walking up 18 to see I was still top.” Chris Hanson hit six birdies on his way to three under, to leave him tied in third with fellow Englishman Simon Wakefield and Frenchman Victor Riu. England&aposs Daniel Brooks looked like he would mount a serious challenge on the leaders, after a strong front nine saw him go out in 32 to sit at four under. But he struggled on the back nine, picking up four bogeys to fall back to level par for the day and two under for the tournament, and sits tied for sixth.