• Trophee Hassan II, Round Two

Davies rewarded for conservatism

Rhys Davies is looking to re-establish his form of last year © Getty Images

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Leaderboard

Peter Lawrie faltered in testing conditions as defending champion Rhys Davies produced a battling display to end day two of the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco in a share of the lead on six-under-par.

A host of players failed to reproduce their opening round performances as Agadir was beset by strong winds, particularly in the morning. Davies, without a top-20 finish to date this season, played consistently and was rewarded for his disciplined approach as he only dropped one shot en route to a 70.

"I'm really pleased with one-under par today as it was really tough out there," said Davies. "The wind is blowing hard and the gusts are very strong so it's making it very difficult.

"But I hit it very nicely again today and holed some good putts so overall I'm very happy with the score and delighted to still be at the top of the leaderboard. Whether that stays the case this afternoon, we'll have to see."

Davies heads up the field alongside Joost Luiten, who somehow managed to card a 69, despite two double bogeys as well as a dropped shot at the ninth. Seven birdies - including four in a row on the back nine - saved his round and he was understandably delighted with the turnaround.

"I was good on the back nine with four birdies so that kept me going," he said. "My form was alright coming into this event. I was 18th last week in Spain and didn't really play that great, but now I'm starting to putt a little better and hole some nice putts so it gives you a much better chance to make some birdies."

Englishman David Horsey sits a stroke further back on five-under, having mixed five birdies with four bogeys in a frustrating round. He is joined by Robert Rock and Darren Clarke, the Northern Irishman bogeying the ninth - his last - to slip behind the leaders.

Overnight leader Lawrie slipped back to three-under for the week after a disastrous five-over par 76. The Irishman was on red-hot form with the putter on day one but poor iron play left him with too much to do on the greens. His form deserted him on the Golf De L'Océan layout, a double bogey came between three bogeys and there were no birdies to help raise morale.

Not everyone found the going tough on the Golf De L'Océan course, however, Jeev Milkha Singh made errors but his overall play was of a good enough standard to see him card a more than respectable 68, taking him to five-under for the tournament. Meanwhile, at Golf Du Palais Royal, Mikko Ilonen bounced back from a horrible 74 to sign for a 64 - taking him into a tie for fifth.

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