GRAND BAIE (Mauritus) — Antoine Rozner, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia and Sami Valimaki tied for the lead at the Mauritius Open Friday.
Rozner shot an 8 under 64 to join Garcia Heredia and Valimaki in a one stroke lead, at 10-under134 overall, after two rounds at Mont Choisy Le Golf.
I like the place I think, said Rozner, a 29-year-old Frenchman who was a runner-up to Rasmus Højgaard after a three-way playoff in 2019, the last time the tournament was held. Once your off the course, you feel completely disconnected. … That suits my needs perfectly. My girlfriend is also here. Its a lot fun for us.
Garcia-Heredia, a Spaniard aged 40, was looking for his first European Tour title. He made seven birdies in his 66.
He said, When I can go to fishing afterwards or in mornings it relaxes my mind. Its going very well. Im playing good, putting good.
Rozner had eight birdies. He said it was one time in his career that he was satisfied with every hole score.
After a course-record score of 62, Valimaki was the overnight leader. But the Finns second round 72 saw five birdies, three bogeys, and a double-bogey.
Oliver Bekker (71) from South Africa was one shot behind the lead, while Casey Jarvis (67), Christoffer Bre (69) or Pierre Pineau (71) were further back.
Three of the five previous editions of this tournament were decided by a playoff. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation of the tournament in the past two years.