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Big names crash out in Malaga

Golf: More than 20 players are separated by only four strokes at the halfway stage of the Andalucian Open in Malaga — but the…

Fri Mar 25 2011 - 00:00

Golf:More than 20 players are separated by only four strokes at the halfway stage of the Andalucian Open in Malaga — but the event has already lost many of its big names.

Swede Rikard Karlberg, who does not even have a European Tour card, shares top spot on eight under par with Dane Jeppe Huldahl and Dutchman Maarten Lafeber.

However, Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal, Darren Clarke and tournament promoter Miguel Angel Jimenez all failed to survive the cut, along with Australian Richard Green, who had to win to have a chance of qualifying for The Masters in two weeks.

Karlberg, who is playing on an invite, followed up his opening 65 with a 67 and would have led on his own but for three-putting the 16th late in the day.

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Former Wales Open champion Huldahl had set the mark with a second successive 66 while Lafeber, whose only Tour win came in the 2003 Dutch Open, shot 65.

Scotland’s 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie is one behind along with England’s Jamie Elson and five-time Japanese Tour winner Tetsuji Hiratsuka, another of the invited players.

Green’s chances of climbing into the world’s top 50 and so earning a second appearance at Augusta were slim even if he had taken the title on Sunday.

But the left-hander had a second successive 71 for two over and missed the cut by three, as did Montgomerie after a 72 that means the 47-year-old’s search for a first top-10 finish since June 2008 goes on.

Olazabal, the Scot’s successor as Ryder Cup captain, and Clarke bowed out on one over and Jimenez on five over.

Ireland’s involvement in the weekend action rests on the shoulders of Paul McGinley, who shot a one-over 71 and lies on one under in a tie for 45th spot.

Damien McGrane missed the cut by two shots after a one-over 71 left him on one over, while Michael Hoey, who at one stage moved to two under after eight holes of his second round, fell away on his back nine to card a 71 for two over.

Gareth Maybin carded eight bogeys, including four straight to close, in a round of 77 that left him on five over.

Shane Lowry enjoyed a day to forget as he battles back from injury, carding an 80 to finish on 15 over. The Offaly golfer had a horrid opening nine of 44 that included five bogeys, one double bogey and a triple bogey.