English duo Darren Lee and Warren Bennett hold a one shot lead midway through the rain-delayed second round of the Novotel Perrier French Open in Lyon. After four hours of play were lost yesterday, persistent rain throughout today's play eventually waterlogged parts of the Sangliers course and forced play to be suspended early with half the 150-strong field yet to complete their second rounds.
Lee and Bennett were both six under par after ten and seven holes respectively when play was abandoned shortly before 5.30pm local time with the restart scheduled for 8am on Saturday. Bennett, who like Lee won the silver medal as leading amateur in the Open championship before turning professional, began with a double bogey on the first but recovered immediately with birdies at the second and third and had just birdied the seventh when play was called off.
Three players had earlier set the clubhouse target at five under par, two more Englishmen Paul Eales and Roger Winchester joined by South African Desvonde Botes who won the qualifying school in November. Costantino Rocca had picked up three birdies in his first six holes to join those on five under par while Jose Maria Olazabal was two shots off the pace after starting his second round with eight pars.
Paddy Gribben is best placed of the Irish, but he has had his progress halted by the day's miserable weather. He is in joint 15th after ten holes on three-under-par, while Gary Murphy, Philip Walton and Paul McGinley have all made it back to the clubhouse on one-under. David Higgins has been interrupted by the weather, and is tied on one-over after ten holes. Ronan Rafferty has completed his round and is also on one-over.
Filed by Shane Murray
