Cork's Sara Byrne three off lead in France

Byrne shot a two-under 69 on Friday, adding to her 68 on Thursday at the Evian Resort Golf Club

Sara Byrne returned to action recently after six months out due to injury. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Sara Byrne is three shots off the lead, and tied for second at the Jabra Ladies Open de France. The Cork golfer shot a two-under 69 on Friday, adding to her 68 on Thursday at the Evian Resort Golf Club which overlooks Lake Geneva. 

Byrne only recently returned to action following a lay-off for an elbow injury. 

“It’s really good,” she said. 

"I feel good to be near the top of the leaderboard and putting myself in good positions. I’m hitting good shots, rolling good putts and trying to take as many opportunities as possible.

“This golf course is hard, it can snap back at you as quickly as it can give you some birdies. I’m enjoying it out here, the weather is beautiful. It’s amazing. It’s probably one of my first times playing a proper major golf course and they’re kind of setting it up like that as well."

Byrne carded five birdies on Friday. Though, that was tempered by three bogies, all coming on the back nine. Germany's Helen Brien leads the tournament on eight-under. 

“It’s a little bit difficult, this is only my third tournament back," said Byrne.

"It feels good to get to the top of the leaderboard with that. The arm is twinging this week, it’s hard because I’m trying to not take a practice swing because that’s where it hurts the most and then getting your subconscious to commit to it.

“I am juggling that a lot more this week than the last two, it’s three weeks on the road now so it’s giving a little bit of kickback. It’s holding up as good as it can be. It’s a learning curve, I hadn’t played competitive golf in six months so coming back and putting myself in a good spot is really cool.”