Rozner finds form to tie at the top in Mauritius

ANTOINE ROZNER shot the low round of the day to take a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Mauritius Open.

Frenchman Rozner fired eight birdies in his bogey- free, eight- underpar 64 to join Spaniard Alfredo Garcia- Heredia, who dropped just one shot in his 66, and Sami Valimaki on 10 under par.

Valimaki, from Finland, fired a course- record 10- under- par 62 on Thursday and threatened another low score with a fast start, picking up three shots in his opening six holes after going off on the back nine.

But he failed to keep the foot down and a costly bogey- double bogey finish stopped his charge and he signed for a 72.

There were no such problems for Rozner, who said after his round: “I think it’s one of the first times in my career I’m happy with every single score on every single hole.

“That doesn’t happen a lot and I don’t think I can score any better on this course. It was tricky, it was tough so I’m really pleased with the way I played.

“You had to aim so far right or so far left in the side winds. I made one mistake on five but after that I didn’t make a lot of mistakes. But putting was solid, short game as well so I’m happy with everything.”

Valimaki, however, did not get what he was hoping for from his second round and felt his putter was to blame.

“It was pretty bad really,” he said. “We made four easy mistakes and couldn’t make any putts. I just didn’t make putts and had bad chips. I’m still playing good golf but I just need to make those birdies.”

But Garcia- Heredia was thrilled to share the lead as he looks to match the big- game fishing success he has had on the island by hooking a trophy as well this week.

“I am loving the fishing in Mauritius. The fishing always relaxes me. I’ve caught sea trout, barracuda, a 40kg tuna, kingfish and a few others. Now I have to play some golf. But I enjoyed it a lot out there. It was fun. It was windy, but it was a fair wind. It was always from the same direction, so you just had to adjust for the intensity of the wind.

“I’m pretty much happy with everything in my game at the moment. I played really solid these first two rounds. I went to see a putting coach because last year wasn’t good, and my putting has improved a lot. I have a good local caddie this week and he knows the greens, so I’m following his advice and it’s going well.”

The co- leaders sit a shot ahead of South African Oliver Bekker. Casey Jarvis, Christoffer Bring and Pierre Pineau share fifth place on eight under.