Paris, France (My Sportsbook) - Rafa Echenique was in the news last week for his amazing double-eagle on the 72nd hole of the BMW International Open that almost snatched him the trophy.

On Friday, he made the news for a different reason.

Echenique posted a four-under 67 to take the second-round lead of the Open de France. He finished 36 holes at 10-under 132 and is two clear at Le Golf National.

Overnight leader Martin Kaymer struggled to a one-over 72 on Friday and fell into a tie for second place. Charl Schwartzel (66) and Steve Webster (65) joined Kaymer at eight-under 134.

Richard Green (67) and Peter Hanson (70) share fifth place at seven-under 135.

Echenique, an Argentine, began the second round three shots off Kaymer's lead.

He started poorly on Friday with a bogey at the first. Echenique reclaimed the lost stroke with a birdie at No. 2 and moved to eight-under for the championship with an eagle at the par-five third.

At the par-four sixth, Echenique sank an eight-foot birdie putt to get to minus-nine. He tied for the lead with a 10-footer for birdie at No. 9, then found himself alone atop the leaderboard when Kaymer began to struggle on the back nine.

Echenique missed an eight-foot par save at the 12th, a hole he birdied in Thursday's first round. That momentarily dropped him into a tie for first, but thanks to more Kaymer mistakes and more strong play from Echenique, the leader grabbed sole possession of the lead.

Echenique rolled in a six-foot birdie putt at the 13th for his second birdie in as many days at that hole. Kaymer bogeyed the last and Echenique converted a nine-foot birdie putt at 17 to grab a three-stroke advantage.

The Argentine found some trouble at the last and made bogey. Echenique will take a two-shot lead into the third round in his quest for his first European Tour victory. He has two Challenge Tour titles, but has yet to break through in the major leagues, although with that double-eagle last Sunday, he came close.

Lee Westwood (68) and Paul Waring (70) are tied for seventh place at minus- six.

Seve Benson (67), Francesco Molinari (70) and Scott Strange (72) are knotted in ninth place at five-under 137.

Defending champion Pablo Larrazabal struggled to a two-over 73 and fell into a tie for 18th at minus-two.

The 36-hole cut fell at one-over 143 and Masters champion Angel Cabrera (145) and last year's British Open winner and PGA Champion Padraig Harrington (147) missed the weekend.