Woosnam drops back to the pack

GOLF

Ian Woosnam's hopes of retaining his Cannes Open title suffered a etback at Royal Mougins yesterday when he finished his second round with a triple- bogey and an injury worry.

The hole which 24 hours earlier had seen Colin Montgomerie hit an eagle putt into a lake, cost Woosnam an eight and dropped him back into the pack.

"I had a bit of spasm in my neck during the round and never hit a decent shot all afternoon," the Welshman said. "I never should have tried to carry the lake."

The ball splashed into the water and, after sending his next attempt into a bunker at the back of the green, he compounded the mistake by taking three putts.

Immediately after signing for a 73 and a two-round total of 140, two under par, Woosnam went off to seek treatment. "My shoulder hurt as well and I just couldn't get through the ball," he said.

The Swiss World Cup player, Andre Bossert, who has never finished higher than sixth on the European tour, added a 67 to his opening 65 and with an aggregate of 132, 10 under par, leads at half-way by two strokes from the French No 1, Jean Van de Velde, and Norwegian rookie Oyvind Rojahn.

Bossert, 31, achieved a notable first, keeping a bogey off his card for the first time on the circuit and in the evening gloom almost matched South African Retief Goosen's hole-in-one at the 139-yard 17th.

"I could just about see it lipped out," he said. A tap-in followed other birdies at the first, fifth and 15th.

Montgomerie, whose last victory was eight months ago, remained in the hunt at four under with a 70 but his Ryder Cup team-mate Barry Lane had to quit after nine painful holes of his second round.

Lane slipped on wet steps coming out of his hotel and jarred an ankle. At one over he was on course to survive the cut but decided treatment rather than more walking was a wise move.

Walton was among those who failed to qualify, adding a 77 to his opening 74 to end a week in which he achieved his second tour victory.

CANNES OPEN (Royal Mougins) Leading second-round scores: (GB or Irl unless stated): 132 A Bossert (Swit) 65 67. 134 J Van de Velde (Fr) 64 70; O Rojahn (Nor) 67 67. 135 A Coltart 66 69; D Gilford 70 65. 136 O Sellberg (Swe) 66 70; M Gronberg (Swe) 64 72; J Robson 67 69; D Hospital (Sp) 66 70. 137 R Boxall 67 70; A Hunter 68 69; D Robertson 68 69. 138 C Montgomerie 68 70; R Chapman 68 70; P Hedblom (Swe) 69 69; I Garrido (Sp) 69 69; A Binaghi (It) 67 71; R Drummond 70 68. 139 N Fasth (Swe) 67 72; I Pyman 72 67. 140 E Canonica (It) 69 71; D Curry 70 70; I Woosnam 67 73; I Palmer (SA) 68 72; C Rocca (It) 74 66; M Miller 70 70; P Moloney (Aus) 68 72; J Bickerton 71 69.