Echenique grabs 36-hole lead in French Open

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SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) -- Rafa Echenique of Argentina shot a 4-under 67 Friday to lead by two strokes after the second round of the French Open.

Echenique reached a 10-under 132 total to sit ahead of a trio that included overnight leader Martin Kaymer of Germany. Kaymer equaled the course record with a 62 on Thursday but only managed a 72 in the second round.

"When I saw myself atop the leaderboard, I enjoyed the moment," said Echenique, who finished second at the BMW International Open in Munich last week. "I have a good moment now. I have to enjoy the moment. My tee shots were very good today."

Several big names missed the cut of 143, including Masters winner Angel Cabrera (145), Jeev Milkha Singh of India (145), three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland (147) and 2005 U.S. Open winner Michael Campbell of New Zealand (154).

Echenique bogeyed his opening hole but recovered by sinking an eagle and four birdies on his front nine.

Kaymer, meanwhile, only made one birdie to go with two bogeys -- including on the 14th when he landed in the rough twice on the longest hole on the Albatross course.

"I was not really happy with my game today," Kaymer said. "I didn't really have the right numbers to go for the flags. So I had to play a little more defensive. I didn't really put myself in a good position to make birdies."

Kaymer shared second place with Charl Schwartzel of South Africa and Steve Webster of England.

Peter Hanson of Sweden was tied for fifth place with Richard Green of Australia on 135.

Starting on the back nine, Hanson holed four birdies on his first nine holes, including a 10-foot putt on the 18th, to hold the early lead at 10 under. But the Swede found water at No. 1 for a double bogey and then dropped a shot on the eighth.

Webster, a joint runner-up at the European Open in May, made seven birdies before a bogey on his final hole for a 6-under 65.

"I've started to feel more comfortable on the greens, reading the greens better," Webster said. "I rolled the ball pretty much where I wanted it to go."

Schwartzel had six birdies to go with a bogey on the eighth.

"I am happy with the position I am in, and if I keep playing like I have been then it could be an exciting weekend," Schwartzel said.

Schwartzel missed the cut at the French Open in 2004 but finished tied for seventh last year.

"The first couple of years that I came here I really struggled," he said. "But I seem to have worked out how to play it, and the last couple of years have been a lot better. The course can bite you but if you play well you will make chances for birdies."

Harrington missed his fifth straight cut and is struggling to rediscover his confidence before defending his British Open title in two weeks.

"I need to work on the putting for the next two weeks," Harrington said. "I need to putt better than I did this week. That's where the focus will be. A few wedge shots as well."

Lee Westwood was four shots back in seventh place, while European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie shot a 74 to sit 11 strokes behind.

John Daly pulled out during the opening round Thursday because of back pains, but said he would only need a few days to recover.