Golf:It was a day of contrasting fortunes as Darren Clarke moved into contention while Peter Lawrie slipped off the pace at the halfway stage of the Trophée Hassan II in Agadir, Morocco.

Things didn’t go according to plan for Lawrie, who after a sensational opening 64 to lead by three, slumped to a five over 76 on the Golf de L’Océan course and dropped back to three under.

Not a single birdie graced the 38-year-old's card while three bogeys and a double at the seventh undid much of his previous good work. What a difference a day makes.

Clarke seemed to have no issues in the stifling Moroccan heat and his array of shot-making came to the fore in a round of 69 on the Golf du Palais Royal layout.

At five under Clarke was just one off the pace in a log-jammed leaderboard and in a chasing pack of no less than eight other players.

Defending champion Rhys Davies (70) was back in familiar territory at the top of the pile with the Welshman sharing the midway lead on six under alongside Joost Luiten from the Netherlands (69) as both played Golf du Palais Royal.

“I’m really pleased with one under par as it was really tough out there,” said Davies. “The wind was blowing hard and the gusts very strong, making it very difficult."

Paul McGinley safely negotiated his way into the weekend with his pair of 71s to be one under, while Michael Hoey (72) was a stroke further back.

Damien struggle to a 75 but at two over the Meath squeezed in on the cut mark. Shane Lowry restored some pride with a 70 but was still way off the pace after his opening 81.

Kearney safely through in Kenya

Challenge Tour:Niall Kearney was safely into the weekend at the Kenya Open on the Challenge Tour but Gary Murphy's woes continue.

Kearney followed up his opening 66 at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi with a 73 to be three under and inside the top 20.

Murphy, who got a late call to play in Kenya, shot rounds of 79, 77 to be way off the pace on 14 over.

South African Michiel Bothma (67) leads on nine under at the halfway stage.