Wake-up call has Eales on the up

Paul Eales rediscovered his enthusiasm for the game - and with it a place on the leader-board in the French Open in Lyon today.

The 37-year-old from Preston hit a second-round 69 in the rain-delayed event for a five-under-par halfway total to set the clubhouse target alongside compatriot Roger Winchester and South African Desvonde Botes.

Eales only secured his card for this season with a 12th-placed finish in the final counting event in Italy last October and admitted that had stirred him after eight years on tour.

He said: "Last year was a bit of a shock, I'd never gone as close to losing playing privileges and that was a bit of a wake-up call." Australian Jarrod Moseley briefly held the lead after the completion of the first round this morning when birdies at his last three holes gave him a seven-under-par 63.

But the 1999 Heineken Classic winner fell back badly when he began his second round shortly afterwards to leave overnight leader Daren Lee out in front again.

Lee had carded a six-under-par 64 yesterday and added three pars at the start of his second round to maintain a slender advantage over the chasing pack.