Angel Ayora moved to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Italian Open after carding a five under par second round at Argentario Golf Club.
Related: Bogey-free Dan Bradbury takes first round lead in Italy
The Spaniard, who finished fourth at last year’s Italian Challenge Open on the HotelPlanner Tour at this same venue, started the day two strokes behind overnight leader Dan Bradbury but was unable to make up some early ground after parring his opening eight holes.
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He then hit form around the turn as he carded four consecutive birdies from the eighth hole and then birdied the 18th for the second day in a row to sign for his five under par round and a nine under par total.
Bradbury carded a two under par round of 68 to sit in second place on eight under par, which he shares with Frenchman Martin Couvra, who carded a new course record seven under par 63 to charge up the leaderboard. Couvra earned his maiden DP World Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open last month.
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Norway’s Andreas Halvorsen joins them in a share of second, as does Germany’s Marcel Schneider, who was runner-up at the Austrian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand four weeks ago.
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Adrien Saddier of France is in sixth on seven under par, while Francesco Laporta is the leading Italian in a share of seventh place on six under.
Player Quotes
Angel Ayora: “I started today very badly. From the tee I was struggling with my swing, but there were some very good recoveries and I was putting very good, so thank you to my short game. On the back nine I was trying to find a swing thought or something to recover from the front nine. I think I found it and I hope to do it tomorrow as well.
“I try to be patient. It’s difficult to do it on the course when things aren’t going very well, but you need to do it. If you start thinking about the past, the bad strokes, it’s not the way to do it. I try to do my best and to finish with a birdie is always a great thing.”
Dan Bradbury: “I didn’t feel like I did too much different to be honest. I had a spell there where I didn’t play good golf, but it was similar at the start and the end. Putting all together yesterday was nice.
“(On one) I hit it right off the tee, just a terrible shot. Laid up, because I could barely see my ball – which was the right decision. I hit a poor wedge, fancied the putt and knocked it six-foot past and missed it coming back. Got a bit excited, but it happens. It’s so hot out here, it was a lapse in concentration with the first putt, but I’m still happy with the day.”
Martin Couvra: “Today was pretty good. My game is in really good shape. I love this place after last year on the HotelPlanner Tour, so I’ll just enjoy the weekend.
“It’s really important (having played here before), you know the spots, the course, the areas to train. It’s easy to arrive here and play a course you know. It’s a good chance for each player who played last year.”
