Ogilvie to fore as Wie withdraws

US TOUR: Joe Ogilvie set the clubhouse target in the John Deere Classic in Illinois after a second round 67 gave him a halfway…

US TOUR: Joe Ogilvie set the clubhouse target in the John Deere Classic in Illinois after a second round 67 gave him a halfway total of 10-under-par 132.

Daniel Chopra after a 69 and Kris Cox with a 68 are a shot back on 133.

After taking a double bogey at the ninth which left her on eight over par Michelle Wie withdrew. The 16-year-old had shot a first round of six -over 77.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Des Smyth shot a second round of five-under-par 67 to move within two shots of the early leaders in the US Players' Championship at the TPC of Michigan yesterday.

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Smyth on 138 covered the first 10 holes in six under par but birdies on the run-in at the 13th and 17th were cancelled out by a bogey at the 12th and a double bogey at the 14th.

The early leaders at eight-under-par 136 were Don Pooley, Gil Morgan, Tom Watson, Jerry Pate and David Edwards.

LET TOUR: Germany's Anja Monke pulled one stroke clear of the pack to grab the outright lead after the second day of the OTP Bank Ladies Central European Open in Hungary.

After a delay of almost two hours - play recommenced at 6.45pm in heavy rainfall - and after a few putts on the practice green to readjust to the speed, Monke completed her bogey-free round of five-under-par 66 to lead on 12 under par after a 64 yesterday.

EUROPEAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS: After a thoroughly depressing Thursday when their chances of European golf medals disappeared Ireland enjoyed much improved fortune yesterday with both youths and boys teams producing splendid victories.

In the youths championship at San Roque, Spain, Ireland beat France 4-1 and can still finish in a creditable fifth position - if they can overcome The Netherlands today.

And they managed to succeed despite close champion Rory McIlroy and Gareth Shaw losing their foursomes match with Tony Raillard and Remi Dupuis at the first extra hole.

It was the bottom three in the singles order who did the business, with Shane Lowry, Simon Ward and Aaron O'Callaghan all securing good wins with something to spare.

Only Séamus Power lost his singles match, going down on the home green to Julien Guerier.

While Ireland battle for fifth spot today Spain and Italy will contest the final having defeated reigning champions Scotland and England respectively.

In the second flight of the boys championship at Malmo in Sweden Ireland started their quest for a best-placed ninth position by overwhelming Italy 4½-½. Liam Reilly and Brian Keenan set the ball rolling with a 2 and 1 triumph over Lorenzo and Joon Kim. Then Niall Kearney,Paul O'Kane and Andrew Hogan won their matches to seal the win while Paul Cutler managed a half. Scotland and Norway clash in the final.

Ireland's woes continued in the Euro under-21 women's team championship at Utrecht in Holland as they were crushed 5-0 by Denmark and will today take on Austria in the 13th place play-off. Spain play Sweden in the final.

In the girls team championship at Esbjerg, Denmark, the Irish did not play yesterday but will today meet Iceland for 16th place.

Germany, surprise conquerors of France, go head-to-head with Spain in the final.