Golf

Quadruple bogey derails Danny Willett as Langasque leads

It was a disappointing day for the Irish contingent as all three missed the cut

Danny Willett of England putts on the 14th hole during the second round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Danny Willett of England putts on the 14th hole during the second round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Fri Sept 02 2016 - 19:29

France’s Romain Langasque claimed a share of the halfway lead in the Omega European Masters as he chased a first European Tour title just months after turning professional.

However it was a disappointing day for the Irish contingent of Paul Dunne, Michael Hoey and Darren Clarke as all three missed the cut.

For Dunne, despite carding three birdies, he slipped to a four over par 74 thanks to five bogeys and a double at the 12th. That left him on six over par and six shots outside the cut mark.

For Hoey it was a round of 73 to finish four over while Clarke followed his opening 78 with a 76 to finish 14 over.

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Frenchman Langasque added a flawless 63 to his opening 68 at Crans-sur-Sierre to finish nine under par, a total later matched by England’s Richard Bland and Australia’s Richard Green.

The 21-year-old Langasque only turned professional after finishing 39th in the Masters in April, his trip to Augusta National secured by winning the Amateur Championship at Carnoustie last year.

But the world number 209 is already set to earn his full European Tour card via the Challenge Tour — he tops the rankings after six top-five finishes — and could secure a two-year exemption with victory in the Swiss Alps.

“This is really cool, but that’s what I want to do every week, so I will do my best now and we will see,” Langasque told Sky Sports after a round containing five birdies and an eagle.

“I’m quite sure I will be on the European Tour next year, so I play without pressure. If I play good that’s cool and if I play bad then it is no problem. I have nothing to lose. I have no pressure and maybe that’s why I can play good.”

In contrast to Langasque, Bland and Green have played more than 800 European Tour events between them, with Bland still seeking his first victory.

The 43-year-old carded seven birdies and one bogey in his 64, while left-hander Green — whose last of three wins came in 2010 — held the outright lead after a hat-trick of birdies from the 13th before dropping his only shot of the day on the 17th.

Sweden’s Alex Noren matched Langasque’s 63 to share fourth place with Australian Scott Hend and Canada’s Richard Lee on eight under, with England’s Andrew Johnston part of a five-strong group another stroke behind.

Defending champion Danny Willett had also been just two off the lead when he recovered from a bogey on the fourth with birdies on the sixth, seventh and ninth, but bogeyed the next two holes and then ran up a quadruple-bogey on the 12th after twice finding the water short of the green.

Willett bounced back with birdies on the 14th and 18th to finish three under par and saw playing partner and Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Fitzpatrick produce an even better finish to make the cut.

Fitzpatrick was seven over par for his first 14 holes on Thursday and eventually signed for a 75, but went 10 shots better on Friday and survived on the mark of level par thanks to four birdies in the last five holes.

The final member of the Ryder Cup threesome, Andy Sullivan, almost pulled off the same feat after an opening 74, only to see his birdie chip on the 18th catch the edge of the hole and stay out. Sullivan's 67 meant he missed the cut by a shot.