Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, who had been caught up in serious hotel fire on the eve of the tournament, shot a steady level par 72 on a less dramatic second day at the Evian Masters in France and comfortably made the weekend cut. 

With husband Graeme, who usually caddies for his wife, still sidelined with a burn on his foot from fleeing the flames, she made five birdies and five bogeys for a two over par halfway total. But she was 11 shots behind a group of three leaders that included Wales’ Becky Brewerton.

“We have lost a lot of clothes and stuff, but it can all be replaced,” said the North Berwick 39-year-old. “Apparently, they have arrested someone in connection with the fire. I believe it is an ex employee’s son and he apparently threw a petrol bomb on the roof and was also caught trying to steal a car.”

Brewerton only got into the tournament by winning last week’s Spanish Open and she followed her opening 67 with a 68 to share top spot with South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi (68), who was runner-up last year, and Japan’s Ai Miyazato (66).

As with Matthew, Brewerton is looking to make a late claim for a place on next month’s European Solheim Cup team. The line-up to take on the USA in Illinois next month will be named after the final round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes a week tomorrow.  

Matthew, who won a tournament in Brazil back in February, is playing in her first tournament since the birth of second daughter Sophie in may, while Brewerton is showing a late run of form.