John Parry and Jarmo Sandelin share lead at Vivendi Cup
Two golfers yet to secure their playing cards for next year found themselves atop the leaderboard after two rounds at the Vivendi Cup, being played just outside of Paris.
Englishman John Parry and Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden are ranked 116th and 168th, respectively, on the European Tour. The top-115 on the Race to Dubai, which replaced the Order of Merit in
2009, retain their player privileges for the following year.
Both players sit at 13-under-par after two rounds at the par-72 Golf de Joyenval after Friday, three shots clear of a large group of players at 10-under.
Thanks to two closing birdies, the 23-year-old Parry, who is yet to win on the European Tour after turning pro in 2007, followed up his opening-round score of 64 with a five-under-par
67.
"It was good," said Parry. "I've been playing well for the last couple of weeks, at least trying to put it all together, putt well and hit it well, which is a bit more like it for the
first two days."
The 43-year-old Sandelin, who has won five times on the European Tour and participated in the 1999 Ryder Cup, shot a six-under-par 66 after opening the tournament with a 65. The Swede
has not won on tour since 2002.
"I haven't had too many bad shots this week so far, so if I can keep it going on like this, I think I will be a happy man at the end of the tournament," he said.
Parry and Sandelin finished the day three shots ahead of an international group of golfers at 10-under, including Frenchman Julien Guerrier, Australian Richard Green, Englishman James
Morrison, and South African George Coetzee.
The home-town favourite Guerrier, who was born less than two hours away from the golf course, has never won a European Tour event. But the 25-year-old has showed promising signs of late,
making his last eight cuts and enjoying his best finish on tour last month when he finished in fifth place at the Czech Open.
Guerrier is also on the bubble to secure his playing card for next year, sitting 121st on the Race to Dubai. And he has enjoyed playing in his home country.
"It's really nice to play here," said Guerrier. "It's still good seeing more and more events here on The European Tour."
The two first-round leaders Johan Edfors, who shot a blistering 61, and David Dixon, who carded a 63, were not able to continue their low scoring on day two. Although both still find themselves
in the top-20 of the tournament, Edfors only managed a second-round 74 while Dixon shot a 73.
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