Richard Sterne opened with a round of 76 at the Open de France on Thursday and looked set to miss the cut, but he bounced back with a Friday 68 to rise into the top 60.
The six-time European Tour winner played his second round at Le Golf National with aplomb, despite carding a double-bogey six at the first hole.
He made the turn at one-over-par, but knuckled down on the back nine, where he made five birdies and one bogey to score three-under-par for the round.
He was two-over-par for the tournament after 36 holes, which set him into an early share of 51st place seven shots behind morning leader Mikko Ilonen.
Sterne’s career has been plagued by injuries and he currently competes on the European Tour through medical exemptions. He’s been on the comeback trail this season and shared fourth at the Tshwane Open in February. That result, coupled with top-10s at the Joburg and Irish Opens, helped the 34-year-old take up his current position of 98th in the Race to Dubai.
His Friday round at Le Golf National has put him through to the weekend, but it will take two further good rounds for him to place well.
Ilonen, meanwhile, limited his mistakes to card 68 on Friday, which earned the Finland native top spot in the clubhouse.
