Brendan McGovern returned a roller coaster round of golf to remain at one-over-par after day two of the Paris Legends Championship.
Starting on the back nine, the Headfort professional immediately traded a bogey at the par-3 10th with a birdie on 11 before picking up another gain at the par-5 17th to make the turn in 35.
Primed to make his move on the inward half, McGovern’s hopes were halted by three straight fives as he went bogey, bogey, double to blow up his back nine bid. However to his credit he rallied, picking up birdies at 4, 7 and 8 to come home in 37, his plus one total good enough for a share of 33rd spot with a round to go in France.
The man to catch is Mark Mouland who will take a one-shot lead into the final round as he aims to win his first Staysure Tour title in seven years.
Mouland followed up his opening round of 66 with a three-under-par round of 69, birdieing his 35th hole to take the lead from clubhouse leader Gary Orr at Racing Club de France La Boulie.
The Welshman’s last victory on the over-50’s circuit came at the 2011 Senior Open de Portugal and now he sits in pole position to claim his second title on the tour.
Two gains on his opening four holes saw him move ahead of overnight co-leader Tim Thelen, as the American dropped back following back-to-back bogeys. Mouland’s first bogey of the week came at the par three seventh as the chasing pack closed in, but a birdie on the par five 11th gave him some breathing space with seven holes to play.
Orr, who won the Scottish Senior Open on home soil four weeks ago, posted the clubhouse target of eight under par, following his low-round of the week, a bogey-free seven under par round of 65, including four birdies on his back nine to put pressure on the Welshman.
With two holes left and one stroke behind, Mouland made sure he would take the advantage into the final day as he birdied the 17th before parring the last to give him hope of tasting victory once again.
“It was a nice round today – I played well, again,” he said. “I didn’t hole as many putts as I wanted, as I kept leaving must of my putts short, but I’m happy with the way I played.
“Only one bogey today, the first one of the week on the seventh. I missed a short putt there but all-in-all I’m very happy.
“This course suits my game nicely. I can see the shots which is the main thing, and you don’t have to hit it too long, which suits me as well. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and the challenge it brings, it should be fun.
“I’ve only won once on the tour, so it would be unbelievable to win again, but that’s 24 hours away. I’ll play my best and see what happens, that’s all I can do tomorrow.”
Orr is aiming for his second Staysure Tour title of the season and will look to put the pressure on the Welshman on the final day. A chasing pack of Markus Brier, James Kingston, Mauricio Molina and Paul Streeter all share third place two strokes behind Mouland.
Jean-François Remesy remains in contention as the leading Frenchman after his four-under-par round of 68, and is one of four players on six-under-par, including overnight co-leader Thelen, who shot a round of 72, level par.
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