GOLF: Michael Hoey, playing in the second group off from the 10th tee in yesterday's second round of the European Tour second stage qualifying school at PGA de Catalunya, was disappointed after handing in a level par 72, a one shot improvement over his first round.
This left Hoey on one over par 145, four shots adrift of surprise leader Francesco Guermani, who is playing in his ninth consecutive qualifying school and who has yet to be successful.
Hoey was two under par at the turn but faded coming home making three bogeys, two of which were three putts. "I have a bad headache and am not feeling too good at all. I lost lost my concentration out there so I am going straight back to the room to rest up," he said.
Andrew McCormick (Scrabo) fell back after a five over par 77 left him on 149, right on the qualifying mark, in a tie for 30th. Colm Moriarty (Athlone) shot the same number, which unfortunately was his second five over par return leaving him languishing in 63rd spot on 10 over par 154.
The other six Irish players have yet to start as play was not possible at either Peralada or St Cyprien due to high winds. The tournament there is now scheduled for a Tuesday finish, weather permitting.
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CRICKET: A three-wicket strike just before tea by all-rounder Jacques Kallis put South Africa in command of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers, Johannesburg. While all five South African seamers got among the wickets, it was Kallis who started the rot as Sri Lanka lost four wickets for four runs just before tea.
The tourists were bowled out for 192 off 75.3 overs and at the close of play South Africa were 51 without loss.
OLYMPICS: The tide appears to be turning in favour of Athens in their much-criticised preparations for the 2004 Olympics following the latest inspection from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). An IOC team, led by co-ordination commission chairman Denis Oswald, rounded up a three-day visit to Athens yesterday and declared the Greek capital is taking an "Olympic shape".
"It seems the organisers have overcome the administrative hurdles that had been preventing the start of some construction work," said Oswald.
