Fri Apr 4 15:28:24 2008

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Bourdy stays in front at Open de Portugal

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Estoril, Portugal (Sports Network) - Frenchman Gregory Bourdy carded a six- under 65 on Friday to take sole possession of the lead midway through the Open de Portugal.

Bourdy, an overnight co-leader, matched the tournament's 36-hole record with a two-day total of 14-under 128. Robert Lee posted that number originally in 1987.

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano birdied the last for a five-under 66. He is alone in second place at minus-12, followed by last week's Open de Andalucia winner Thomas Levet. Bourdy's fellow countryman fired a seven-under 64 to finish at 11-under 131.

Simon Khan shot a four-under 67 and has fourth to himself at minus-10.

Bourdy began on the eighth tee Friday - a wrinkle of this event due to the shape of Oitavos Dunes golf course. He parred his first five holes, but went on a run that got him back into first place.

He birdied the 13th and 14th holes for the second time in as many rounds. Bourdy birdied the par-three 15th, then knocked third to four feet to set up a fourth birdie in a row at the par-five 16th.

At the par-four 18th, Bourdy appeared to be in danger of dropping his first shot of the tournament. He instead converted a 12-footer for par to keep his bogey-free streak alive.

Bourdy hit his tee shot to the left fringe at the par-three third hole. He drained the 30-footer from off the green for another birdie to move to 13- under for the championship.

Four holes later, Bourdy reached the green in two at the par-five seventh, his last of the day. He missed his 35-foot eagle try, but converted the three- footer for birdie to match Lee's tournament record and get through 36 holes without a blemish on his card.

"Yesterday's round was the first time I have shot eight-under on the European Tour and it was a little difficult to get going this morning," acknowledged Bourdy. "I didn't pick up any shots on the first few holes and I had to be patient. After that I had a great run of four birdies in a row.

"I didn't drop any shots today either so I really enjoyed it again. I enjoy this course and the weather has been fantastic."

Bourdy would love nothing more than to add to his second trophy to the mantle. He captured last year's Mallorca Classic and would also love to see back-to- back Frenchmen win on tour.

"We'd love to do the same," Bourdy said.

Fernandez-Castano had an up-and-down round on Friday. He mixed seven birdies, an eagle, two bogeys and a double-bogey for his round of 66.

The Spaniard had a great look at eagle from seven feet at the 16th, but missed. Fernandez-Castano tapped in a two-footer for birdie, but dropped a shot at 17 that dipped him three off the lead.

He birdied the last to get within two of the lead.

"It was fantastic to birdie the last - a nice way to finish after the tee shot on 17, although I made a fantastic bogey there too," said Fernandez- Castano. "It was a great round - seven birdies and an eagle is fantastic but it had its bad points as well."

Oliver Fisher, who lost the playoff to Levet last week, shot a six-under 65 and is tied for fifth place. Simon Dyson (66), Jean-Francois Remesy (63) and Steve Webster (66) joined the 19-year-old Fisher at minus-nine.

Defending champion and first-round co-leader Pablo Martin only managed an even-par 71 on Friday. Alastair Forsyth (69), Stephen Gallacher (63), Soren Kjeldsen (65), Jose Manuel Lara (70), Andrew McLardy (68), Zane Scotland (65) and Lee Slattery (68) share ninth with Martin at eight-under 134.

The 36-hole cut came at two-under 140. Thomas Bjorn (143), Notah Begay III (144) and Jean van de Velde (147) will all miss the weekend.