Golf Digest/US Tour: Australia's Robert Allenby carded a six-under 65 to charge into the lead midway through the second round of the Booz Allen Classic in Potomac, Maryland yesterday, two shots clear of fellow-countryman Adam Scott, who added a 67 to his first-round 68, and overnight leader Matt Gogel, who shot 72. It wasn't a good day for Padraig Harrington, whose 144 halfway total at Congressional looked certain to leave him outside the projected 142 half-way cut.
South African Ernie Els, who captured his second US Open here in 1997, moved into contention with a 67 for 136. Phil Mickelson signed for a 67 for 138.
WOMEN'S AMATEUR: Claire Coughlan will today attempt to become the first Irish winner of the British Women's Open Amateur Championship since Lilian Behan exactly two decades ago.
The 25-year-old former Irish champion and Curtis Cup player from Cork will face Dutch golfer Christel Boeljon in this morning's semi-finals over the Littlestone course on the Kent coast while in the other match defending champion Louise Stahle meets Spaniard Maria Hernanez.
Coughlan disposed of Kent player Sian Reddick and German Katarina Schallenberg on her way to the last four and the chance to complete a swift Irish double after Brian McElhinney won the Amateur title at Royal Birkdale last Saturday.
Coughlan was down early on against Schallenberg but squared at the seventh and never looked back. She won 10 with a par,and took both 12 and 13 to open up a three-hole advantage,and she ran out a three and two winner.
Ireland's other player left in yesterday morning, Tricia Mangan, the 31-year-old from Ennis, went down 3 and 2 to France's Alexandra Vilatte.
SENIORS TOUR: Scotland's Sam Torrance carded a seven under par 65 to move into a one-shot lead after the first round of the Jersey Seniors Classic at La Moye.
The former Ryder Cup captain recorded two eagles and five birdies, one better than French rookie Jean Pierre Sallat, with England's David J Russell and Canada's Bruce Heuchan one shot further back.
Northern Ireland's Eddie Polland and America's Chuck Milne shared fifth place on 68.
CHALLENGE TOUR: Belfast's Michael Hoey and Justin Kehoe of Shinrone overcame atrocious weather at the Esbjerg Golfklub in Denmark to lead the Irish challenge at the Thomas Björn Open.
Not one player out of the 156 in the field went under par during round two as gusting, swirling winds hit the course.
Hoey and Kehoe carded respective second rounds of 76 and 81 post aggregate totals of seven and eight over par and be the only remaining Irishmen in the field led by Toni Karjalainen of Finland - the only player under par.
Colm Moriarty (10 over), Eamonn Brady (11 over), Peter Williamson (14 over) and Tim Rice (16 over) missed the cut.
