Elissalde still on top

Thomas Elissalde (c) Agathe Séron 2014

Thomas Elissalde confirmed his good form and keeps his shoulders one shot higher than his closest fellow competitor, England’s Steven Tiley.

The 22 year old from Biarritz shot 69 today for -10 total after second round of Red Sea El Ein Bay Open. Elissalde, Challenge Tour player this season, won his maiden title in 2014 as a rookie when he lifted the big beer glass Gösser Open trophy.

On his wheels, Englishman Steven Tiley, playing this week thanks to an Alps Tour invitation. The 32 year old player from Royal Cinque Ports golf club in Kent is not a rookie in this part of the world. Tiley won the Egyptian Open in 2009, the oldest Middle East pro event (1921). Tiley best result ever is a 26^th place recorded during the 139^th Open Championship in Muirfield.

A group of 3 players are 4 shots back of the lead. Alps Tour winner, Matthieu Pavon and Juan Antonio Bragulat and France’s Clément Batut whose best result on Alps Tour is a 9^th place last year during this opening event of the season.

The cut felt at +2 and former European Tour players such as Federico Colombo, Andrea Maestroni and Julien Clément did not make it.