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ADARE MANOR, Ireland : French rookie Michael Lorenzo-Vera opened up a one-shot lead after the second round of the Irish Open here on Friday to confirm the promise he showed on the Challenge Tour in 2007.
The 23-year-old from Biarritz carded a second round two under par 70 to post the leading score of six under 138.
That put him one shot clear of Germany's Marcel Siem and two ahead of joint overnight leader Richard Green of Australia and Pablo Larrazabal of Spain.
He is also three clear of a six-strong bunch of players which includes Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke.
India's Jeev Milkha Singh, who shared the first round lead, slumped to four over for the round and now stands four shots off the pace.
Lorenzo-Vera won the Challenge Tour's Apulia San Domenico Grand Final last season to win the Challenge Tour Rankings, and he is hoping that he can make his breakthrough on The European Tour.
"That was really good today," said Lorenzo-Vera. "My driving is getting better and the errant shots are better. My sand wedge is all right and the putter is definitely good, my best friend at the moment.
"I'm getting used to Adare Manor. For the first time of my life I'm maybe gaining some intelligence! I have been playing to the right sides of the holes and committing to every shot, because you have to play that way around this golf course.
"I can't tell you if I am ready to win on The European Tour at the moment - you can't tell that until you have done it and I haven't done it yet.
"You know, so many people play well for the first two rounds and fall away after that, so I will try to keep the same game, and we will find out if I am ready to win on Sunday."
Clarke and Ireland's Paul McGinley, who were Ryder Cup teammates for the past three matches, compiled a pair of three under par 69s to bring the second round to life and move three and two under respectively.
"I am very pleased with that because I didn't play particularly well at all today and my ball striking was poor. My speed on the greens was poor and I managed to just hang in there and sneak it around," said Clarke.
Meanwhile, Colin Montgomerie made yet another call for a clampdown on slow play.
A three under par 69 lifted the 44-year-old Scot to level par, six behind Lorenzo-Vera.
But it took nearly five hours to complete and Montgomerie said afterwards: "Golf's got too slow - that's my bugbear in life.
"Five hours is an hour too long. There's no reason why we can't get round any course anywhere in the world in any conditions in four.
"The deterrents have got to be tougher - that works in any walk of life. If there is a serious one it's amazing how quick it could be.
"I think we are all working together on it and it's a matter of trying to get it all together and try to make it fair for everybody."
- AFP /ls
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