20110401

Davies: Defence on track
GB & Ire unless stated
-6 J Luiten (Ned)
-6 R Davies
-5 D Horsey
-5 D Clarke
-5 M Ilonen (Fin)
-5 S Kapur (Ind)
-5 JM Singh (Ind)
-5 P Hedblom (Swe)
-5 G Coetzee (SA)
-5 R Rock
-5 J Zapata (Arg)
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Welshman Rhys Davies is making a solid defence of his Hassan II Trophy title, earning a share of the lead at the halfway stage in Morocco.
Davies returned a round of 71 on the Golf de L’Ocean course to join Dutchman Joost Luiten at the top of a crowded leaderboard.
“I’m not feeling any pressure despite being defending champion this week,” said Davies.
“It’s a different golf course for one and I just feel very relaxed.”
Luiten, playing the same course – one of two in use over the first two days of the pro-am event – had an eventful round of 69 that included seven birdies and two double bogeys.
The pair are one shot clear of nine players on five under par, amongst whom is Mikko Ilonen of Finland, who fired a sparkling 64 over on the Golf du Palais Royal.
Ilonen has been struggling for form this season but got it going in a big way on Friday, reaching the turn in 31 after starting on the 10th.
Three more birdies coming home saw him move through an otherwise static leaderboard on a day when Thursday’s leaders went in the opposite direction.
Darren Clarke is also in the chasing pack after a second successive 69, along with English duo Robert Rock and David Horsey.
Three shot leader Peter Lawrie was unable to repeat the magic of his opening 64, not finding the Golf de L’Ocean to his liking as he slipped to a five-over-par 76 – albeit just three off the lead.
England’s John Bickerton had a similarly disappointing round of 76, while in-form Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin also slipped back with a clumsy 77.
Another six players are within two shots of the lead with only three separating a total of 22 players.
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