Date: April 05, 2008
Author:

French challenge for Bourdy

Gregory Bourdy leads the way at the Portuguese Open but he is under pressure from Thomas Levet as Gareth Paddison and Matthew Millar fly the flags for the Australasian contingent. Levet, though, is heading to The Masters next week – to commentate, not to play – and it could be with a second successive European Tour victory to his name. Five days after winning the Andalucian Open in Spain the former Ryder Cup star today moved into third place at Oitavos Dunes. Levet, 11 under par following a 64 which included an amazing 105-foot eagle putt, is three behind compatriot Bourdy, with Spain&aposs Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano the man in between them on 12 under. The two Frenchmen have recent history together and also ancient history. Last Sunday Bourdy was part of the group at Aloha who sprayed Levet with champagne after he beat England&aposs Oliver Fisher in a play-off. That continued a friendship which began 14 years ago when Bourdy, only 12 at the time, was invited to play the pro-am before the Lancome Trophy in Paris and Levet was the professional he partnered. “He was a little boy and I was out-driving him by 50 yards, but now he is much longer than me,” said Levet, who would be in exclusive company if he can make it two wins in eight days. In this decade only three players – Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Tiger Woods, past and present world number ones – have achieved the feat on the European Tour. “I am pretty tired from last week because you lose a lot of energy when you win, but I am thinking so well on the golf course at the moment. I am not stupid any more!” “I am seeing all the shots and the decisions I am taking are very good. I&aposm Mr Two Weeks-in-a-row.” His outrageous eagle putt came from off the green at the long 16th as he covered the back nine in 30. “It was the second longest putt of my career. The longest was from 42 yards on the fifth hole at St Andrews in 1992 I think during a practice round for the Dunhill Cup. That was for par.” Bourdy has yet to have a bogey this week and, having opened with a course record-equalling 63, he added a six-birdie 65, four of them coming in a row from the 13th. Winner of his first Tour title in Mallorca last October, the 25-year-old has not had a top 20 finish in nine previous starts this season, but said: “I was there for Thomas&aposs win and hopefully I can be the winner this week.” Fernandez-Castano took over as the main Spanish threat with a 66, defending champion and joint first round leader Pablo Martin managing only a 71 to remain eight under. New Zealander Paddison, meanwhile, continued to enjoy a consistent showing over the second day, claiming a second consecutive three-under 68 to be at six under overall and one stroke ahead of Australian Millar (69). Millar&aposs compatriot, Peter Fowler, however, is further back at one over after rounds of 72 and 71. Second Round of the Portugal Open (Par 71): -14: Gregory Bourdy 63 65 -12: Gonzalo Fdez-Castano 64 66 -11: Thomas Levet 67 64 -10: Simon Khan 65 67 -9: Simon Dyson 67 66, Oliver Fisher 68 65, Jean-Francois Remesy 70 63, Steve Webster 67 66 -8: Alastair Forsyth 65 69, Stephen Gallacher 71 63, Michael Jonzon 64 70, Soren Kjeldsen 69 65, Jose Manuel Lara 64 70, Pablo Martin 63 71, Andrew McLardy 66 68, Zane Scotland 69 65, Lee Slattery 66 68 -7: Martin Erlandsson 69 66, David Howell 67 68, Stuart Manley 67 68, Charl Schwartzel 65 70 Also: -6: Gareth Paddison (New Zealand) 68 68 -5:Matthew Millar (Australia) 68 69 +1: Peter Fowler (Australia) 72 71