At the halfway stage of the Benson & Hedges International Open at the Belfry, the course on which the Ryder Cup will be contested in September, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson is setting the pace.
The 25-year-old from Gothenburg in his rookie season leads by three shots from Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn on 10-under after shooting a four-under par 68.
Added to his opening course record-equalling 66 yesterday, which left him tied as overnight leader with Ireland'sPaul McGinley, Stenson threatened to go even lower by getting to 12-under with four holes still left to play.
However, back-to-back bogeys at the sixth and seventh - his 15th and 16th - left him with a 134 aggregate.
"I'm excited and I have a nice weekend coming up," said Stenson.
"I've not played well so far this season, but I've got it together now.
Bjorn may have been just two behind had he not bogeyed the last but the Dane still holds outright second after today’s four-under 68.The European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, along with McGinley and South African Desvonde Botes share third one shot back on six-under.
McGinley could only manage a level par round 72, while Torrance carded a 70 and Botes went one better with a 69.
Padraig Harrington consolidated his position at the upper end of the field with a level par 72.The Dubliner could not match the highs of yesterday’s 68 but is still very much in contention nonetheless.
Veteran Eamonn Darcy proved he still capable of producing some the old magic with his unorthodox action.The 48-year-old carded the second best round of the day with a five-under par 67 - one more than Germany’s Sven Struver - to climb to two-under for the tournament.
One of the pre-tournament favourites, Darren Clarke, was perilously close to missing the halfway cut set at one-over.In a frustrating round, the Tyroneman struggled to a four-over par 76.Having started the day three shots behind the leader on three-under, Clarke finished with a 145 halfway total and will need aminor miracle if he is to contest come Sunday afternoon.
Some pity must go to Paddy Gribben who had a nightmare day on the De Vere course.After opening with a two-under par round of 70, it appeared the former Walker Cup player was taking full advantage of his invite to this prestigious event.Instead, Gribben unfortunately collapsed with an eight-over par 80 to finish on a six-over total of 150.
It wasn’t any more enjoyable for David Higgins who chose the first day for all his undoing.The Waterville man managed a level par roundbut it was not enough to cancel a disastrous nine-over par 81 yesterday.