Gavin Dear making smooth progress in France

However, the Perthshire golfer's travelling companion, Steven Hume, missed the cut by eight shots.

Dear, starting at the 10th, came home in 33, for a second-round 69 and a two-round tally of three-under-par 139.

That put the Murrayshall House man in joint 19th position, six shots behind the leader, Italy's Nunzio Daniele Lombardi who enjoyed impressive back-to-back rounds of 67 and 66.

Hume had a second-round 72, which was not good enough to repair the damage of a first-day 78, and his 150 total put him well outside the 142 or better mark required to maintain an active interest in the tournament.