JUSTIN ROSE put himself into his strongest position yet to win a tournament in 2003 when he climbed into a share of seventh place in the French Open last night.

But he could face one of his strongest challenges from former Hampshire team-mate Richard Bland, who is lurking just outside the top ten after shooting a brilliant 67 at Le Golf National in Paris to move to five under.

Matt Blackey capped a great day for Hampshire golf by cruising safely through the cut with his second successive round of 71.

It left Blackey at two under, eight behind the leader Thomas Bjorn who had the likes of Rose and former Volvo PGA champion Anders Hansen breathing down his neck, Rose just three behind.

The Hampshire player, who won four times last season, moved back into top form with fifth place in the US Open two weeks ago.

He is carrying on that form in Paris where, after opening with a 68 on Thursday, followed up with a 69 to stand seven under.

The 22-year-old Fleet-based star moved into top gear with back-to- back birdies at five and six. He picked up another shot at the 11th to move seven under and even a couple of bogies on his back nine couldn't shake Rose's resolve.

After dropping a shot at the 12th, he bounced back with birdies at the 13th and 14th. He gave a shot back at the 15th but held his composure to par his way home and keep Bjorn in his sights. The Dane is playing his first tournament since cutting his hand in a domestic accident.

Bland, 141st in the order of merit and desperate for a good payday, shot his best round since the Dubai Desert Classic in March.

Bland still had memories of an eight at his last hole on Thursday washing around his head as he teed off yesterday morning and bogied the second hole to go one over.

With the cut projected at one under, he needed to turn the corner and did it in brilliant style. Like Rose he birdied five and six then he roared through his back nine in 32, picking up four more shots, the last of them at the 18th.

Bland came home with five threes on his card and a two, a performance which will hopefully launch a strong seond-half of season surge to save his card.

Poor Gary Emerson from Salisbury may need a miracle after suffering more agonies, particularly at the par four ninth where he ran up a nine. It followed a double bogey three holes earlier and left him a sorry 11 over.