Open Qualifying: There was disappointment in Sunningdale as the seven Irishmen who set out in pursuit of a coveted place in next month's Open failed to make the grade and secure one of the 18 spots available at today's 36-hole qualifying event.
With 120 players chasing 18 berths, Rory McIlroy and Gary Murphy came closest as the pair finished on two-under, but at tied 28th that was still two shots away from the play-off. Murphy blazed back into contention with a fine 66 over the Old Course at the Surrey venue.
McIlroy made a steady start with his opening 69 but could only match his morning score and therefore lost ground to the field. Paul McGinley also shot a second round 69 on the Old Course to add to his opening 70 for a one-under aggregate.
It was a popular score among the Irish contingent in the afternoon for Athlone's Colm Moriarty also closed with a 69, but his race was run with his first round 74 to finish three-over.
That was one better than Darren Clarke, who followed up an opening 74 with a 70 on the New Course. It means Clarke will miss the flagship event for the first time since 1991.
"`That is my worst-ever score here and I'm going fishing in three weeks' time - that's the way it would appear," Clarke said after his first round.
The Ryder Cup hero's only remaining chances of making it to Royal Birkdale are to finish in the top five either in this week's European Open or next week's Scottish Open.
Michael Hoey managed a respectable second round 69 after a disastrous 79 in the morning, while Peter Lawrie was disqualified after an opening 71.
England's Simon Wakefield (65, 68) and Argentina's Ariel Canete (67, 66) led the qualifying on seven-under par.
England's Peter Baker and Simon Dyson emerged from a gruelling five-man sudden death play-off with Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, Scotland's Alistair Forsyth and fellow countryman Chris Rodgers before booking the final two slots after the quintet finished on four-under par after 36-holes.
Irish scores and totals after the second round of Open Qualifying at Sunningdale Golf Club, Surrey, England
T28 Rory McIlroy 69-69 138
T28 Gary Murphy 72-66 138
T45 Paul McGinley 70-69 139
T69 Colm Moriarty 74-69 143
T77 Darren Clarke 74-70 144
T95 Michael Hoey 79-69 148
DQ Peter Lawrie 71
The top 18 players booked their place at the Open at Royal Birkdale to be played July 17th-20th
