Strong finish puts Saltman in hunt as Davies eyes another Morocco win

Playing his second round on Golf du Palais Royal - the field played both courses in a pro-am format over the first two rounds - Saltman birdied three of his last four holes for a level-par 72 to stay at four-under-par.

He is sitting in a share of 12th on a tightly-packed leaderboard, just two shots behind Davies, and Dutchman Joost Luiten, with Darren Clarke, Peter Hedblom and David Horsey among nine players just a shot off the pace.

Davies, who was in the same Walker Cup teams as Saltman in 2005 and 2007, made his breakthrough in the paid ranks in this event a year ago and is in the mix again after a second-round 70.

The Welshman, without a top-20 finish so far this season after a remarkable debut campaign last year, was a model of consistency as he posted two birdies and just one dropped shot.

"I'm really pleased with one-under today as it was really tough out there," said Davies. "The wind was blowing hard and the gusts are very strong so it's making it very difficult. But I hit it very nicely again today and holed some good putts so overall I'm very happy."

Overnight leader Peter Lawrie found the going tougher on the Golf De L'Ocan course after a sparkling opening 64 at Golf Du Palais Royal. The Irishman carded a five-over 77 in testing conditions to slip back to three-under for the tournament.

Saltman was joined in the final two rounds by Peter Whiteford, who is two-under, Richie Ramsay and Ross Bain, both one-over, and George Murray and Steven O'Hara, who both just made it on two-over.

On the Challenge Tour, Andrew Coltart and Marc Warren both slipped down the leaderboard after disappointing second rounds in the Barclays Kenya Open at Muthaiga Golf Club on the outskirts of Nairobi.

Coltart, one off the pace after an opening 66, had seven bogeys and three birdies on an untidy scorecard that added up to a 75, one more than Warren, who had a double-bogey at the ninth as he also slipped to one-under for the tournament.

The duo are in a share of 29th at the halfway stage, eight shots behind the leader, South African Michiel Bothma.

The 38-year-old, who has two top-10 finishes to his name in five previous appearances at the event, posted six birdies in a 67 to lead by one from Johannesburg-born Swis player Andr Bossert, who covered the back nine in an impressive 29, and Austrian Thomas Feyrsinger.

Team Scottish Hyrdo players Craig Lee, who is also on one-under, and Gavin Dear, level-par, were the only other Scots to make the cut.