Golf:Retief Goosen was plagued by insects during his second round of four-under 68 but they did not bug him enough to stop the South African clinging on to a one-shot advantage in the BMW International Open today.
First round front-runner Goosen moved to 12-under-par 132, a stroke ahead of Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen, who produced an eagle and five birdies during his second round 65 to nearly catch the two times US Open champion.
Scotland’s David Drysdale, who matched Goosen's 64 of the previous day and Nick Dougherty, who carded a 65, were on 10-under.
"I was wearing a green shirt and that's not normally their favourite colour but it was this time," said Goosen after his round. "It was scary. The way they were swarming I couldn't see the ball. I put on my rainproof top to keep them off. They don't seem to like blue so much."
Goosen's first round 64 had hinged on taking only 26 putts with a new putter, but he ran up 31 for his 68.
"I hit a lot of good putts that didn't go in this time," added the 40-year-old, who is searching for his 15th European Tour title.
Peter Lawrie was the best-placed Irishman on seven-under after today’s round of 68 that left him one ahead of Rory McIlroy, who came back to card a 67. The Holywood pro dropped shots at the seventh and eighth but also enjoyed seven birdies in his round. Gareth Maybin was next of the Irish on five-under after his 68.
Michael Hoey (71) and Gary Murphy (70) both squeezed in on the cut mark which fell at three-under, but there was disappointment for Paul McGinley, Shane Lowry and Damien McGrane who have the weekend off.
McGinley, one of the early pace-setters in Germany yesterday, shot a miserable 75 and at one-under missed the cut by two. Lowry shot a creditable 70 to get back to level par but it means the Clara golfer has yet to make a cut since winning the Irish Open at Baltray last month. McGrane’s 73 also left the Meath golfer on level par.
Bernhard Langer trying, at the 19th attempt, to claim the only German title he has not won, is in a group four strokes off the lead.
Langer, 51, finished second two years ago and he helped his cause this time by chipping in from a bunker to save par on the penultimate hole. The German, seven times a winner on the Champions tour, played alongside McIlroy
Last year's winner Martin Kaymer missed the cut after a 72 left the German one-under.
