Dutch Open: Richard Green conquered an increasingly difficult course at the Hilversum Golf Club yesterday to take a three-stroke lead in the KLM Dutch Open.

Exceptionally warm weather in Holland saw the greens dry out fast but the Australian followed his first-round 65 with a seven-under-par 63 to throw down the gauntlet to his nearest challengers.

They are Andrew Raitt, at nine-under after a 67 yesterday, and first-round leader David Lynn (70), fellow Englishman Miles Tunnicliff (66) and Swede Per Nyman (67) all on seven under.

Ryder Cup hopefuls Ian Poulter and Paul McGinley shot 67 and 69 respectively to lie a stroke further back along with Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin (66).

But Green, who has had back-to-back second places this year in the French and Smurfit European Opens, is the man they all have to catch.

"It's a bit easier to do it on a par-70 course than a 73," Green joked after falling one short of equalling the lowest opening 36-hole total for this event.

"I just stuck to my game plan and fortunately I got a couple of shots close to the pin and picked up a couple of strokes."

Green actually had five birdies on the front nine to take him to 10 under and although he bogeyed the par-four 11th he bounced back with three more birdies in his last seven holes. That left him well clear of the chasing pack but the Melbourne-based player is aware of what the weekend might bring.

"I feel I want the win bad enough to do it this year," said Green, whose last European Tour win was seven years ago at the 1997 Desert Classic . "I'm going to give it my best, stick to my plan of playing smart golf but it's a position I've not been in before, leading by a long way.

"There is a lot of pressure on me - hopefully I don't put a lot of pressure on myself. That is the battle," said the tall left-hander.

Much of the outside pressure is expected to come from Poulter and McGinley who are both playing well and are threatening to pull off a low round some time soon.

McGinley, who began at five under but dropped shots at the opening two holes, recovered well and with only one further bogey and four birdies on his card was relatively pleased after scrambling a par-five at the last after pushing his tee shot into the trees.

"I had a rotten start, got myself back into it and then had an average finish," said the Dubliner, who is currently short of Ryder Cup qualification and needs to win at least €300,000 in prize money in the next month to stand a chance.

"I put myself behind the eight-ball but I recovered well and I have to be pleased with a 69," he continued. "Richard Green has shot a really low score but as I have said many times the standard of golf on tour nowadays is colossal. There are so many guys who can play and shoot low numbers.

"The course is tricky, a good test of golf. Play well and you get rewarded - you get lots of chances but if you don't (take them) you can shoot a high number."

Poulter, who had five birdies and two bogeys today, is particularly confident.

"I had two stupid bogeys on the front nine but so be it," said the 28-year-old Englishman, who is currently eighth in the Ryder Cup European points table.

"I played some magnificent golf shots around the back nine and it was all fairly steady.

"All in all it was a good day. I'm very comfortable, I'm happy with the way I'm hitting it and there are not too many at the top of the leaderboard.

"I've made more than my fair share of birdies (12 so far) and I think I can chase down (the leaders) and have a good weekend."

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Ireland's Eamonn Darcy and Mark McNulty are just three shots off the early pace set by Craig Stadler in the 3M Championship of the Twin Cities Blaine, Minnisota. Stadler fired an opening eight under par 64 that included eight birdies, an eagle and two bogeys. Darcy and McNulty shot 67s while Des Smith is a shot back on four under par 68.

PGA TOUR: Chris De Marco set the clubhouse target when he opended a 14 points lead after 17 holes of the second round in The International at Castle Pines GC, Colorado.

DeMarco's on 32 points when rain caused another stoppage had a commanding lead over Bob Tway and Olin Browne.