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VERSAILLES, France : Argentina's latest golfing discovery, Rafa Echenique, grabbed the halfway lead in the 4million euros French Open at Le Golf National on Friday.
The 28-year-old from San Luis carded a fine second round of 67 for an 10-under total of 132, two strokes clear of a trio comprising rising German star Martin Kaymer, England's Steve Webster and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel.
Richard Green of Australia and Peter Hanson of Sweden were a further shot back.
Kaymer had lead by three strokes after the first round with Echenique in a five-way tie for second.
The South American, who grabbed the headlines last Sunday when he closed with a rare three-under par albatross to take second place in the BMW International in Munich, was inspired by an eagle at the third hole as he went out in 32.
A bogey at the 12th set him back but birdies at the 13th and 17th gave him a three stroke lead before a disappointing bogey finish.
"I started with a bogey, then a birdie and then an eagle. I was a bit quieter after that," he said.
"The putting has been very good for the last three weeks and if I can keep that going I am in with a chance."
Kaymer, who equalled the course record of 62 on Thursday, opened with five straight pars before a birdie at the sixth brought him to the turn in 35 and still in the outright lead.
But he struggled on the back nine dropping his first shot in 30 holes after driving into the wispy, links-like rough on the 14th and then closed with another bogey at the 18th after pushing his drive into a fairway bunker.
Schwartzel, with four top six finishes but no wins this year, had six birdies against just one bogey in his round of 66 which left him confident he can be in contention come Sunday.
"It is right there, it is just a case of finishing one off," he said of his game.
"I enjoyed my round and hit a lot of good shots. I hit great putts on six and seven today and they should have dropped so I should have been a few better today but, all in all, I am still very happy.
Webster, whose best round of the day of 65 included seven birdies, put his improved form so far this week to a freak household accident that forced him to take a week off from competitive play.
"I was doing some work around the house with my dad last week and after putting some junk in the loft of the house I went to close the door and the latch slipped and the door came down and hit me in the face," he said.
"So I had to have a couple of stitches in the eye but it actually turned out nice to have a week off. I went to the gym and did some good work on the swing."
Padraig Harrington's woes continued as he missed the cut for a fifth straight tournament adding a four-over 75 to go with his 72 on Thursday.
The Dubliner, who is in the throes of swing changes he hopes will make him more consistent off the tee, opened with nine straight pars, but bogeys at the 10th and 13th followed by a disastrous triple bogey eight at the tough 14th sealed his fate.
He will head immediately back to Ireland and his home country's PGA tournament, his final tuneup event ahead of the British Open which starts at Turnberry on July 16.
On the west of Scotland links, he will attempt to become the first player to lift the Auld Claret Jug three times in a row since Australian Peter Thomson in 1956 following his wins at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale last year.
Harrington said he was not too concerned about his poor run of form.
"It could all change next week. I really feel very optimistic," he said.
Also heading home early was Masters champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina. He fired five birdies in a row from the third en route to a one-under 71 but that was not enough to repair the damage he inflicted on his chances with an opening 75.
- AFP /ls
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