Golf:Darren Clarke may have been a late starter and struggled to find a gear early on but he quickly got up to speed at the BMW Italian Open where a second round 66 kept him within touching distance of the overnight lead.

Clarke bogeyed his two opening holes at Royal Park I Roveri in Turin, by which point is looked as though he would be battling to make the cut rather than challenge for honours over the weekend.

In the end there was little need to panic for two quick birdies at the fourth and sixth corrected matters before a blistering back nine turned around his day.

The recent Iberdrola Open winner came home in just 30 strokes courtesy of birdies at 11 and 12 before he reeled off four on the spin from the 14th.

At seven-under Clarke was five off the pace set by joint first round leader Robert Rock. The English golfer became the outright leader on 12-under after his 68 and leads by one from compatriot Chris Wood (69), who he shared the first round lead with, and Joost Luiten from France (67).

It was a tightly bunched affair behind the leading trio with no less than six players on 10-under, including home favourites Francesco Molinari (68) and teenage sensation Matteo Manassero (68).

Of the rest of the Irish contingent, Damien McGrane was safely into the weekend after a 68 left the Meath man handily-placed on five-under.

Simon Thornton was unable to take advantage of his sponsor's invite as a 69 left him on two-under, two outside the cut mark.

Paul McGinley also has the weekend off after a 70 left him one-over.