Boyd shares lead as Willett stays close

golf: England’s Gary Boyd shared the halfway lead with Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet as he seeks a first win on the PGA European Tour.

The 25-year-old shot a five-under-par 67 to follow up his opening 66 and move to 11 under. That total was matched by Gonnet after six birdies and a solitary bogey at the 13th hole.

Boyd had a disappointing start when he failed to replicate Thursday’s eagle at the 12th and dropped a shot on this occasion.

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It would be his only blemish, though, as he gained the shot back at the 18th and then carded five birdies on the front nine. His outstanding shot came at the fourth, when a superb approach out of the rough left him with a tap-in for a birdie three.

South Africa’s Branden Grace lies third on his own, one shot behind the leading pair after a bogey-free 67, while a 67 left Nicolas Colsaerts on his own at nine under.

Korean Choi Jin-ho also joined the trend for 67s to finish at eight under, level with Australian Marcus Fraser and Spain’s Ignacio Garrido who both made three-under 69s. A large group follow at seven under, including Sheffield’s Danny Willett – who followed up his first-round 69 with a 68 yesterday – and Oliver Wilson.

Hull’s Richard Finch couldn’t get near his opening day 67, carding a second round 73 to leave himself seven shots off the lead. Malton’s Simon Dyson is one shot behind Finch.