LUMBRES, France (PA) -- Five birdies and an eagle propelled Australian Wade Ormsby to the top of the leaderboard after Friday's second round of the Saint-Omer Open in northern France.

The 29-year-old from Adelaide carded a 6-under-par 65 to move to 7 under, one ahead of England's James Morrison who returned a 69 in the small European Tour event, which is co-sanctioned with the second-tier European Challenge Tour. Last year's runner-up Christian Nilsson was also 2 under for the day, putting him clear in third on 5 under.

Ormsby, starting on the back nine, had a run of three birdies and a bogey in five holes from the 12th. But he was much more consistent after that and carded seven successive pars before finishing birdie-birdie-par-eagle, covering his last nine holes in 32.

"I stood on the ninth tee thinking about a birdie, so to chip in for eagle was a big bonus," said Ormsby, who chipped in for a 3 there at the ninth. "It was a great end to a very pleasing round. I haven't struck the ball that well for a very long time, particularly on the back nine.

"Now I am the leader by one, which is obviously a great position to be in."

Morrison had three birdies and just one dropped shot -- at the 170-yard third -- in his round while Nilsson went to the turn in a 4-under-par 32 to move to 7 under and hold the outright lead. However, three bogeys and just one more birdie dropped him back to 5 under.

Morrison was satisfied with his performance on a windy day in Lumbres.

"The forecast was for wind, which did arrive, making an already tough course even tougher. So again I had to be patient, which I was," he said. "The only bogey I made was down to a plugged lie in the bunker but to have only one bogey after 36 holes round here must mean I'm playing pretty well so I'm very happy."

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