• Open de France, Round Two

Westwood and Poulter lurk as Canizares leads

Robert-Jan Derksen is well placed following a second-round 71 © Getty Images

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Alejandro Canizares produced a fabulous late charge to wrestle the lead from Robert-Jan Derksen after two rounds at the Open de France.

The Spaniard birdied four of his final five holes to move up ten-under following a second successive round of 66.

Defending champion Martin Kaymer is well placed to attack as he made four birdies in a round of 67 to sit one off the lead at nine-under.

Steve Webster birdied five holes on his back nine, including a three on 18, to card a 66 and move up to seven-under.

Derksen followed up his superb opening 63 with a level-par round of 71 to retain his position at the head of the field. The 36-year-old needed two lengthy par saves to negotiate the front nine without dropping a shot, before two birdies after the turn added some colour to a patient card.

Bogeys at the 13th and the 484-yard 17th pegged Derksen back to eight-under-par but he seemed satisfied with his efforts as he walked off the 18th green holding a two-shot lead over nearest challenger Jyoti Randhawa.

World No. 3 Lee Westwood played himself into contention with a two-under-par second round of 69 to move onto three-under-par for the tournament.

The 2009 Race to Dubai champion showed his grit as he recovered from hitting his tee shot into the water on the short second to run up a double-bogey five and bogeying the 17th for the second day running. Birdies at six, seven, 14, 15 and 16 improved the Englishman's mood, although his recent leg-injury seemed to be taking its toll as he appeared to limp off the final green.

"It just gets sore as the day goes on," Westwood said. "I just need to ice it I guess. It doesn't hurt when I swing - except just a little bit on the way through - but does not feel very nice up short, sharp hills and there are a lot of them here."

Ian Poulter, whose place in the event was also in question after his leg swelled up following an insect bite, also moved onto three-under with a bogey-free second round of 67. The 34-year-old, who has finished in the top ten in Paris three times in the last four years, was clinical with the putter as he drained a number of tricky par putts to keep his card clean.

"The leg did distract me a little yesterday but it was much better today," Poulter said. "Yesterday felt like a practice round because I didn't hit any balls on Tuesday or Wednesday.

"I was a little cautious yesterday but today I felt much better and I was able to go at some pins and roll some more putts in. My putting was great today.

"This is a golf course I play well and I always have a good level of confidence here. I knew the leaders were a fair way in front but I also knew that if I put in a good score today - which I did - then I would be back in apposition where two good rounds over the weekend will give me a chance of winning."

Adam Scott and Charl Schwartzel moved their way up the leaderboard with rounds of 69 and 70 respectively to sit four shots behind Derksen, while Alvaro Quiros and Danny Willett ensured they would be around for the weekend as they finished the second day on three-under - the same score as Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald.

Darren Clarke, David Howell, Ryder Cup hopeful Shane Lowry and Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie all missed the cut after finishing the second day at two-over-par, while Jose Maria Olazabal finished at 10-over on a rare start on tour.

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