GOLF: Ireland's Peter Lawrie, playing in just his third tourament on the full European Tour, is just three shoots off the pace yesterday at the halfway mark in the South African Open in Cape Town.
Lawrie, after rounds of 68 and 69 shares, second place with Scotland's Andrew Coltart, three behind the leader, South African Tim Clark, who fired his second successive 67 for a halfway total of 10 under par 134.
The 28-year-old Dubliner had been trying for four years to achieve a coveted players' badge, but then promptly left it at home when he finally did earn one.
He made the cut in both events in Taiwan and Hong Kong at the start of the season late last year, however, including back-to-back eagles in Hong Kong courtesy of a hole-in-one followed by a three on the following par five.
"I always seem to play well after a break," said Lawrie.
"I haven't played competitively since Hong Kong and hardly touched a club since. I think when I play too much I think too much about it.
"I'll play each shot as it comes over the weekend and not look at anyone else. I haven't played in front of big crowds before - but I don't think it will bother me."
Gary Murphy made it a good day for the Irish with a second round of 67 for a total of 138 while Graeme McDowell, Padraig Dooley and Tim Rice also made the cut. All three made it on the cut-off mark of 146.
McDowell added a 71 to his opening 75, Dooley slipped to a 76 after opening with a 70 and Rice, despite dropping shots on the 17th and 18th, also got through after a 71.
Lawrie was a model of consistency. He was out in two-under-par 34 after birdies at the second and third and he added two more at the 13th and 15th before conceding his only shot to par at the 17th for an inward half of 35.
Defending champion Clark felt he had a point to prove last year when his request for an invitation to the tournament, held in Durban near his Natal home, was turned down - and he proved his point in emphatic fashion by winning the qualifying event and then the tournament itself.
This year he had his own parking space marked out at Erinvale but looked equally determined to retain his title.
Four birdies and an eagle from 20 feet on the 13th stretched his lead to four shots at one stage, but he dropped his first shot of the week on the par-five 16th.
Last year's rookie of the year, Nick Dougherty, shared fourth place with Holland's Rolf Muntz and Murphy and was delighted to have got back on track in his first event of the season.
Paul Lawrie, the former British Open champion, made the cut on level par after a second 72 - but former European number one Lee Westwood crashed to a 77 and eight-over total.
Westwood revealed earlier this week he will be consulting coach David Leadbetter later this month in a bid to revive his career, and it looks as though he still has a long way to go.
Leaderboard: Top 10
134 (10 under)
Tim Clark (Rsa) 67 67
137 (7 under)
Peter Lawrie 68 69
Andrew Coltart 68 69
138 (6 under)
Nick Dougherty 72 66
Rolf Muntz (Ned) 68 70
Gary Murphy 71 67
139 (5 under)
James Kingston (Rsa) 67 72
Bobby Lincoln (Rsa) 71 68
Jean Hugo (Rsa) 66 73
Simon Hurd 71 68
