The key to victory this week will be the player who gets the yardages right around the rain-saturated Crans-sur-Sierre course.

Heavy rain contined to fall on day two of the event as temperatures also tumbled and resulting in snow falling on the lower Alps.

Frenchman Julien Quesne, and winner of this year’s Andalucian Open, has found the shortest route after two rounds posting a second day 65 to move to nine under par and one clear on England’s Danny Willett (67).

Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, looking to become the second player this year to win three times, is already well positioned in third place after posting a 66 to move to seven under par.

David Lynn teeing off the 13th. (Photo - Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie)

Normally, on a bright sunny day so common in the Crans event players would deduct 10% off the yardage given the altitude of the Seve Ballesteros designed course.

But it’s been guess work and very much a lottery for all competitors given the extremely wet weather and the cold.

Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, who is lying at five under par, summed it up saying:  “I remember last year when it was warm, the ball would fly for miles because of the altitude but that’s not the case this week.

“It’s just difficult to judge your distances, especially with the temperature changing all the time.

“And the key now over the weekend, and with this weather looking likely to continue, will be getting those yardages close enough to spot on.”

And Ramsay’s remarks were supported by Ireland’s Shane Lowry who finished with a two under par tally to be ensured of playing all four rounds of the Swiss event for a first time in four years.

“It’s been guess work for two days trying to get the yardages right because on a bright sunny day up here we’d be allowing 10%, and that’s working in metres,” said Lowry.

“So with the cold weather, the rain and the softened ground we’ve found ourselves in between clubs a lot.

“But I’m so pleased to be playing these two last days as that’s a first for me up here.”