PARIS - New Zealand golfer Stephen Scahill carded his lowest round of the season to move into contention after day two of the French Open championship in Paris.
The Featherstone golfer grabbed eight birdies in a seven-under par round of 65 on the National Club course to finish five strokes behind
runaway leader South African Trevor Immelman.
Immelman's eight-under par 64 was just one shy of the course record and lifted him four strokes clear of nearest rivals Jose Maria Olazabal, the defending French Open champion from Spain, Argentinian Eduardo Romero and French hopeful Jean-Francois Remesy.
Immelman, 22, a former South African Amateur champion, recorded his lowest score since joining the European Tour in 2000.
Scahill's effort boosted him to fifth spot with Scotland's Andrew Coltart and England's Malcolm Mackenzie.
Scahill's 65 included five birdies on the second nine including four over the closing six holes.
His score is his best in 36 rounds of competition of the European Tour since he recorded a similar score on second day of last November's Hong Kong Open.
He appears to be benefiting from putting changes initiated by coach, Jonathon Yarwood, who also coaches New Zealand number one Michael Campbell.
"My putting has been so much better the last couple of weeks and that was the case today," Scahill said.
"What I am doing differently is converting the chances and when I hit my irons close, I seem to be making every putt and that's the big difference."
Scahill's second round display was far more pleasing end than a day earlier when the 32-year old slipped from three under total back to level par after taking a bogey at 16 and then a double bogey at his last hole.
"I was pretty upset to finish in that manner but this is the round I needed and has me right in contention because I felt on Thursday that I didn't get the score I needed," he said.
"I came out today and just battled away and finished really strong."
His French Open appearance is Scahill's 11th event of the season but with a best place result of 11th in the Asian Open, the New Zealander is keen to improve on the $NZ136, 484 he has earned to date.
- NZPA
