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Raphaёl De Sousa fires 67 to tie for European Challenge Tour’s Piemonte Open lead after 36 holes

Posted by Big G under Latest Golf News, Mens Pro Golf

Raphaёl De Sousa from Switzerland posted a flawless five under par round of 67 to take a share of the lead with four other players on seven under par at the halfway mark of the European Challenge Tour’s Piemonte Open in Torino.

De Sousa, who has been working with a sports psychologist to help improve his putting, shot five birdies the day after he celebrated his 25th birthday

The Piemonte Open is being played over two courses for its first two rounds – the Royal Park Golf and Country Club and the Circolo Golf Torino.

De Sousa is tied for the lead with countryman Julien Clément, English pair Seve Benson and Andrew Marshall and Swede Björn Pettersson.

De Sousa said his hard work on the mental side of his game had paid dividends on the Royal Park Golf and Country Club, which has proved less daunting than the Circolo Golf Torino.

Marshall, who had been in second place overnight, shot four birdies and two bogeys for a one under par 71, while his playing partner on the tougher Circolo Golf Torino course, Benson, shot two birdies and an eagle in a two under par round of 70 that also contained two bogeys.

Swede Pettersson, meanwhile, admitted it was safety first on the challenging Circolo Golf Torino, but like Benson fared better than most in shooting a two under par 70.

Clément, who had been joint overnight leader on eight under par with Englishman James Morrison, shot a one over par round of 73 that included three birdies as well as two bogeys and a double bogey five on the 13th hole of the Circolo Golf Torino.

Englishmen Morrison and Gary Lockerbie are a shot behind the leaders on six under par, along with another Swiss, Damian Ulrich.