Martin Couvra will take a two-shot lead into the weekend as he looks to win his first DP World Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Related: Robin Williams goes bogey free in Turkey
The 22-year-old Frenchman started the day in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard but pulled clear of the chasing pack, reaching 11 under par courtesy of a five-under 66 at Regnum Carya, with South African Wilco Nienaber at nine under and China’s Li Haotong a shot further back.
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Couvra graduated from last season’s HotelPlanner Tour and has impressed during his maiden campaign at this level, having already posted four top-ten finishes, including fifth at the Hainan Classic last time out.
Couvra got his second round going with three birdies in a row from the seventh, and after maintaining his momentum with a par save at the 11th, added further gains from three feet at the par-five 12th and 11 feet at the last.
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Nienaber made seven birdies in his best-of-the day 65, while Li fired a flawless 66. Overnight co-leaders Tiger Christensen and Robin Williams both signed for rounds of 70 to sit in a four-way tie for fourth with German Yannik Paul and England’s Todd Clements.
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Leon Acikalin made history as the first Turkish player to make the cut at his national open on the DP World Tour, firing rounds of 70 and 69 to get to two under.
Player Quotes
Martin Couvra: Really happy about my game today, always good to have a bogey-free round.
It was pretty good (par save on 11), on the tee, honestly I hit a pretty nice shot, but just on the left side. And I made a very good putt, so it was a good par on that one.
My iron game was pretty good today and I had some good moments, so yeah, my iron game and my putting was good.
I just try to keep the same mindset on the golf course (going into the weekend) keep focusing on me every day and that’s it.
Wilco Neinaber: I know I have the cover of the water on the left (of 18) but it has to be a really good hit. I hit it OK, straight down the fairway. Had 111, hit a nice shot to eight feet and holed the putt.
It does feel like there were still a few out there, but that’s nice knowing that. It wasn’t flawless, but it was pretty good.
I don’t think there’s a golf course where length doesn’t help, when it goes straight as well. I did some work with Ping with my driver, I got a totally different driver, and it’s obviously doing the job.
Thoughts are not much different (going into the weekend). Just do the same things, be patient. I’m sure I’ll be pretty close if I do that.
