Warren Bennett, who almost quit the game through injury last year, enjoys a one-shot lead after the second round of the Cannes Open. Bennett carded a second consecutive 66 at Cannes Mougins yesterday for a 12-under-par halfway total, a stroke ahead of fellow Englishman Andrew Marshall, Norway's Henrik Bjornstad and Argentinian Jorge Berendt.

After topping the Challenge Tour rankings in 1998 with five tournament victories and record prize money, Bennett won the Scottish PGA on the main tour in August the following year, only to be struck down by pneumonia weeks later, the virus then bringing back an neck injury that had forced him to sit out most of the 1996 season.

Playing this year on a medical exemption, Bennett has had a string of excellent results that have lifted him to 25th on the Order of Merit and into England's World Cup team. "I would have taken just keeping my card this season compared to where I was last year," said Bennett, who won the silver medal as leading amateur in the Open at Turnberry in 1994.

Bennett carded eight birdies and two bogeys yesterday, both dropped shots the result of penalty drops after his ball ended up underneath trees on the first and 13th.

Bjornstad was alongside Marshall and Berendt on 11 under, despite having an inexperienced caddie on the bag. Bjornstad employed a local caddie in the first round, but when he failed to show on time yesterday morning he had to rely on 12-year-old Jack Sorrell, son of club professional Richard. Bjornstad added a 68 to his opening 65 for an 11 under par halfway total.

Another missing caddie also had no ill effects on the Australian Wayne Riley, who finished the day three off the lead after employing a local dentist when his caddie also failed to show. First round leader Lucas Parsons of Australia could only manage a 73, 11 shots worse than his opening 62.