Europe stick with Ryder Cup selection

RYDER CUP : The qualifying format for the 2008 European Ryder Cup team will be unchanged for the defence of the trophy in Louisville…

RYDER CUP: The qualifying format for the 2008 European Ryder Cup team will be unchanged for the defence of the trophy in Louisville, Kentucky.

"There is a well-used expression, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it', and I feel it applies in this instance," said captain Nick Faldo yesterday.

The United States, desperate to avoid a fourth successive defeat at Valhalla Golf Club, have revamped their qualifying system by doubling the amount of wildcard picks from two to four for skipper Paul Azinger.

Five European players will again qualify through the Ryder Cup world points list, based on world ranking points earned over a 12-month spell starting at the European Masters in September.

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Another five players earn places through the European points list based on money won in order-of-merit events.

Faldo completes his 12-man line-up by choosing two wildcard picks after the final counting event, the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

The 2008 Ryder Cup will run from September 19th to 21st.

US PGA TOUR:Jeff Quinney shot seven birdies in his first 13 holes on his way to a 63 and a four-shot lead midway through the second round of the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.

On 13-under-par, Quinney leads from Bubba Watson, John Rollins and Robert Garrigus.

Quinney began his round on the back nine and started with two birdies. He added birdies on his fifth and seventh holes for a front nine of 32 and then picked up two more shots through the next three holes on his way to a second nine of 31.

Dudley Hart, the first-round leader, was a late starter after play was held up 40 minutes because of frost.

CHALLENGE TOUR: Felipe Aguilar from Chile claimed the early lead after the second round of the Colombia Masters at the Country Club de Bogota yesterday.

Aguilar added a second-round 68 for a halfway total of 135 and a one-shot lead over his compatriot Mark Tullo, who shot 70.

Ireland's David Higgins and Stephen Browne missed the cut after finishing on 147 and 150 respectively.

SUNSHINE TOUR: Jean Hugo employed the oldest unwritten rule in golf - greens in regulation - to superb effect, holing out from all angles at the Nashua Masters yesterday to move into a two-shot lead.

For a second successive day, the 31-year-old from Stellenbosch produced a bogey-free round in breezy weather at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club to sign for a three-under-par 67 and move two clear of the English duo Euan Little and Justin Walters, who are tied at seven-under.

But the title is anyone's race at the halfway stage with a leaderboard jam-packed with talent and experience.

Among the challengers, Hendrik Buhrmann (68) and Andre Cruse, who shot the low round of the day, a 64, share fourth place at six-under,

Limpopo Classic champion Bradford Vaughan and European Tour player Titch Moore are at five-under and the 13-time Sunshine Tour winner Desvonde Botes is at four-under.

Ireland's Padraig Dooley added a second-round 70 for a total of 142, which guaranteed weekend golf.

LET TOUR:Australia's Karrie Webb carded a one-under-par 71 yesterday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the MFS Women's Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club.

The 32-year-old from Queensland professed that her golf was "ugly" by her own standards and that her distance control was lacking. Yet despite that she still managed to manoeuvre herself into a dominant position halfway through the tournament.

"You know what's really encouraging is that this time last year, the way I swung it I would have been two over par. So the good thing about the confidence that I have and the work that I've done outside of my game is that I'm able to score even when things aren't quite right," she said.

Webb was one shot adrift after opening with a 67 on Thursday, but ended her second round on six-under-par 138, one ahead of Taiwan's Yun Jye Wei, who plays most of her golf on the Japanese LPGA.

Australia's Nikki Campbell, who also competes on the LPGA of Japan, tacked a 73 onto her opening 67 for outright third place on four-under-par 140.

Meanwhile Sarah Kemp, the overnight leader, fell back into a share of 11th position after a 71.

Ireland's Rebecca Coakley safely made the cut despite taking 77 in the second round for a halfway total of 150.