Staff WriterMartin Couvra will take a two-shot lead into the weekend as he looks to win his first DP World Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open.
At the Turkish Airlines Open’s Regnum Carya course, the 22-year-old French wunderkind carded a five-under-par 66 to surge to 11 under overall.
It was the sort of low-profile, jaw-dropping display that leaves seasoned pros checking their yardage books twice.
Couvra began the day in a three-way tie for the lead but wasted no time staking his claim. “I felt really good over the ball today,” he said after rattling off three straight birdies from the seventh.
After a solid par save at 11, he closed with key gains—a three-footer at the par-five 12th and an 11-footer at the 18th—to leave the field in his wake.
Martin Couvra: Really happy about my game today, always good to have a bogey-free round.
It was pretty good (par save on 11), on the tee, honestly I hit a pretty nice shot, but just on the left side. And I made a very good putt, so it was a good par on that one.
My iron game was pretty good today and I had some good moments, so yeah, my iron game and my putting was good.
I just try to keep the same mindset on the golf course (going into the weekend) keep focusing on me every day and that’s it.
The Contenders Lurking
South African long-hitter Wilco Nienaber lurks at nine under following a sizzling 65 that featured seven birdies, his best score of the week so far.
China’s Li Haotong, meanwhile, delivered a flawless 66 to sit just a stroke further back.
Overnight co-leaders Tiger Christensen and Robin Williams couldn’t quite keep pace; both signed for 70s and now share fourth place with Germany’s Yannik Paul and England’s Todd Clements.
- Wilco Nienaber: 9 under (65)
- Li Haotong: 8 under (66)
- Christensen, Williams, Paul & Clements: All at 7 under
Can anyone reel in Couvra over the next 36 holes? You sense a showdown brewing—where power meets precision under Antalya’s bright skies.
Homegrown Hero Makes History
Amid the international flair, local man Leon Acikalin etched his name in the record books as the first Turkish player ever to make the cut at his national open on the DP World Tour.
With rounds of 70 and 69, Acikalin sits at two under—proof that the home crowd’s roar has real substance behind it.
Expect Regnum Carya to be rocking come Saturday as fans flock to cheer on their trailblazer.
What Lies Ahead
The weekend at the Turkish Airlines Open promises drama, doubtless punctuated by pin-high approaches and nerve-shredding putts.
Couvra will need to channel every ounce of the confidence that carried him here, while his pursuers must find birdie chances and steady hands in equal measure.
One thing’s certain: if you love golf that balances youthful bravado with seasoned strategy, you won’t want to miss the final act of this captivating tournament.
