ENGLAND'S Steven Bottomley and Jonathan Lomas gave a magnificent performance when they shot a nine-under-par 62 to take the lead in the second round foursomes at the Novotel Perrier Pairs event in Bordeaux yesterday. The duo closest to them are Ireland's Raymond Burns and Philip Walton, four shots off the pace.

Bottomley and Lomas had carded 63 in the first round four-ball on Thursday but to score one better in a foursomes was incredible golf and was described by Burns, playing in the same group, as "the finest golf round I have ever seen".

Bottomley and Lomas are on 125, 17 under par overall, and four shots clear of Burns and Walton, who shot 68 yesterday for 129.

Jamie Spence and Welshman Mark Mouland are lying third after a 67 for 131, but the day was clearly dominated by Bottomley and Lomas.

They had five birdies in their first eight holes and hit their approach shots so close their longest putts in this spell was a 10-footer at the second by Bottomley and one of the same length stink by Lomas at the sixth.

Then at the ninth they dropped their only shot when Lomas hunkered their second shot to turn in 31 but it was a momentary lapse.

They bounced back with four more birdies in the next five holes and wrapped up the round with their 10th birdie of the day at the last to come home in 31 as well.

Burns and Walton, who began two shots ahead of Bottomley and Lomas, after a first-round 61, birdied the second and third yesterday to go out in 33 and then had three birdies running from the 10th,

It took them into the lead by one shot but then they dropped shots at the 13th and 17th, where they three-potted each time, and the 15th where Burns was over the back. A birdie at the 16th, their sixth of the round, brought them a little consolation.

Today's third round will be a greensomes where each man drives and then they choose the best ball to continue the hole.