Thriston Lawrence kept himself in contention on Friday with a second round of three-under-par 68 in the DP World Tour’s FedEx Open de France at Le Golf National.

There was a bogey on each of the nines for the South African, who started his round on the 10th. He dropped shots on the 18th and on the fourth, but he made a birdie on his first nine, and four on the front nine as he reached 36 holes at nine-under-par in a share of sixth.

He was four strokes behind the leader, Matt Fitzpatrick of England, who carded a seven-under-par 64 to hit the front at 13-under. He was one clear of Denmark’s Jeff Winther, who also signed for a 64.

Fitzpatrick made an excellent 18th-hole up-and-down to retain his lead. The world number four made five birdies and an eagle before his foot slipped on the 18th fairway and he was left needing to produce a brilliant chip to retain his lead.

“Yeah, the shot itself, we were wondering whether to go for it,” he said. “I was kind of happy to go for it. Took the extra club just to make sure. And then as I took my backswing, I felt my right foot slip. So I kind of obviously was then in search for the ball, I kind of throw my right arm and managed to sort of make contact, it’s just gone a long way and a long way left. But, yeah, obviously nice to be in the fairway, be able to have some control on the ball and hit one in close.”

Ockie Strydom and Dylan Naidoo were the next best South Africans in the field, in a share of 17th on six-under-par after rounds of 68 and 69 respectively.

Brandon Stone was on five-under-par in a share of 30th.