By Matt Smith
Frenchman Julien Guerrier goes into the weekend at the Cazoo Wales Open with a two-stroke lead at Celtic Manor.

He followed up his opening 67 with a 68 on day two for a seven-under total and a lead over England’s Callum Shinkwin and American Johannes Veerman.

Shinkwin mixed seven birdies with four bogeys in an impressive second-round 68, while Veerman holed his approach shot at the 18th for a closing eagle to secure a 68 of his own.

Jack Senior, Espen Kofstad, Marcus Armitage and Thomas Detry were another shot back on four-under.

Guerrier is hunting his first DP World Tour victory, having gone close at the Cazoo Classic at Hillside Golf Club last month.

He said: “It was a really good day for me. My driving and my iron game were not very good, I was really far from the pins but I only made one three-putt — my putting was really good and that was the key today.

“I played some bad shots but I made some good shots, otherwise I would not have shot three-under. I try to avoid watching the leaderboard, I try to focus on my concentration and it’s a very demanding course.

“Anything can happen at every hole and so I just try to play safe and in the good areas on a difficult golf course.

“My learning from Hillside is to stay patient, stay focused and concentrate on your own game, that’s all.”

David Howell, making his 700th DP World Tour appearance this week, comfortably made the cut on two over after shooting a level-par 71.

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