Craig Howie leads the UAE Challenge, two Frenchmen in the top 10

Already well placed after a first lap completed at 69, Craig Howie achieved a card of 66 (equalling the course record), without error, during his second round. The Scot recorded 6 birdies and takes control of the tournament at -9 total. He has a two-step lead (-7) over a Spanish duo. Leader Thursday evening, Ivan Cantero Gutierrez remains on the podium thanks to a score of 70 (3 birdies, 1 bogey).

The Spaniards in force

The 27-year-old is accompanied by his compatriot Manuel Elvira. The latter finished the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club course in 68 shots (1 eagle in 9, like Thursday, 4 birdies, 2 bogeys). At -6 total, two players are in 4th place. We find the Dane Kristian Andersen and another Spaniard, Joel Moscatel Nachshon. 6th position (-5) is shared by a trio made up of Maverick Antcliff, Liam Johnston and Jaco Prinsloo.

Two French in the top 10

The first French appear in 9th place. They are Ugo Coussaud (3 birdies, 2 bogeys) and Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon (4 birdies, 3 bogeys), both authors of a card of 71 this Friday. At -4 total, there are also Kristoffer Broberg, Kristoffer Reitan, Jamie Rutherford, James Allan and Matteo Manassero. Other tricolor representatives passed the cut in Abu Dhabi.

Seven Tricolores will be present this weekend

Thus, Victor Riu, Clément Berardo and Benjamin Hébert rank 28th (-2 total). In difficulty on Thursday evening (record of 75), Pierre Pineau pulled himself together perfectly. The winner of the Portuguese Open in 2019 finished best Frenchman of the day thanks to his score of 68 (6 birdies, 2 bogeys). This performance allows him to move up to 40th place (-1 total) The amateur Martin Couvra (52nd, by total) will also play this weekend thanks to a second card of 71 (4 birdies, 3 bogeys).

Conversely, the other Frenchmen engaged in Abu Dhabi stop there. This is the case of Julien Sale who had a complicated Friday, closing his second round in 77 moves. The 25-year-old finished 82nd at +3 overall. Tom Vaillant (91st, +4), Jean Bekirian (108th, +6), Robin Roussel (108th, +6), Frédéric Lacroix (129th, +8) and Felix Mory (151st, +16) did not have either managed to pass the cut.