Max Kennedy couldn’t reproduce the magic of his course-record breaking opening round at the Blot Play9 at Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André, but he goes into the weekend in a share of third.
A horror start saw the Royal Dublin man go bogey-triple-bogey to cover the first three holes in +5, and though he regrouped to cover the next 13 holes in one-under, trading three birdies with two bogeys, but a double bogey on the 17th saw him slip back further.
Mark Power climbed as high as fourth on the leaderboard having played his first 13 holes in level-par after a four-under opening round – testament to how tough the golf course was playing in the afternoon on day two – but three late bogeys saw him slip back to -1 and into a tie for 17th.
It was a week to forget for Dermot McElroy who missed the cut by a distance, although he improved on his opening effort by nine shots.
While all others around him were struggling, James Morrison rolled back the years to post a bogey-free four-under round of 66 and take a three-shot lead into the weekend.
The two-time DP World Tour winner carded four birdies to reach -10, three ahead of Belgian Matthis Besard in second.
The 40-year-old made the perfect start to his second round with a birdie at the first before another gain at the seventh saw him make the turn two under for the day. He went on to make two more birdies coming in, including at the picturesque par-five 11th, to climb into pole position in Brittany.
“I’m very happy considering my recent results,” he said. “It’s been a nice change in form over the first two days, and the game seems to be coming together now. I want to keep it going heading into the weekend now and the golf course suits my eye really nicely.
“I’m not the longest but the golf course is very firm, and I hit a four-iron down the last there 285 yards. There are some real tough tee shots on this course and my strength is hitting the ball straight so the harder off the tee the better for me.”
The Englishman, who graduated from the HotelPlanner Tour in 2009, lost his DP World Tour card in 2024 after 15 successive seasons on the Tour but he is hoping for a quick return via the Road to Mallorca Rankings this year.
“I’ve been in a bit of a mental whirlwind over the last few months, but I’ve got into a better headspace recently and a good result here could change my year pretty quickly,” he said.
“It would mean everything to get my DP World Tour card back. I’ve been through a lot over the last few years and just to get back to playing out here is a big thing for me. I’m starting to enjoy my golf again and I’m just going to focus on that and see what happens.”
Overnight leader Max Kennedy shares third position with Sweden’s Christofer Rahm and German Philipp Katich on four under par, while Swede Hugo Townsend and French duo Oihan Guillamoundeguy and Robin Sciot-Siegrist a shot further back in sixth.
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