European Tour: Paul Broadhurst maintained his lead in the Portuguese Open at Penina but admits he struggled to hold things together yesterday. The 40-year-old chalked up six birdies and three bogeys for a 69 and an 11-under-par 133 total for the tournament.

That leaves him two shots ahead of the Frenchman Christian Cevaer, with Sweden's Christian Nilsson one further back.

But Broadhurst said: "It felt like a visit to the dentist's out there. It was tough."

Michael Hoey leads a three-man Irish charge on the weekend after an excellent second round of 67 for a halfway total of 140. Hoey is joined by Peter Lawrie, who fired a 68 for 141 and Gary Murphy, who added a second 72 for 144.

Broadhurst picked up shots at the second and fourth but then found the water at the fifth to bogey the hole.

"You have a feeling when you are not in control, and I did not feel in control," he said. "But I persevered, and my short game got me out of trouble."

Broadhurst had an eagle chance at the last but had to settle for a birdie.

Jarmo Sandelin is on seven under - with Paul Lawrie, Gary Clark and Anthony Wall one behind the Swede.

Paul Lawrie kept himself firmly in contention by reverting to the putting technique which helped him enter golf's Hall of Fame. The Scot decided to wind back the clock, after studying some old videos, and follow the format which saw him win the British Open in 1999.

He said: "I am putting a lot better now, which makes a big difference. I have gone back to the old style, after watching some tapes over the last couple of weeks."

Clark picked up six birdies in 13 holes, but a double-bogey five at the 16th saw him slip back to four under. However, he completed his round in style by picking up shots at the last two holes.

Clark said: "You have to hit it straight around here and find the fairways, which I did quite well today.

"I have had two bad swings in two rounds which have cost me double bogeys - but apart from that, it is going well. It is a nice position to be in for the weekend. When you are on form there is nothing better than being out here."