IT WAS another day of Irish golf celebration at Hilversum yesterday where Des Smyth birdied three of the last four holes to snatch the Dutch Open halfway lead, and Philip Walton outscored partner John Daly by 21 shots in his second round.

Smyth added a 67 to his opening 64 to reach 11 under par, one ahead of Mark McNulty who covered the inward half in 29 to score 65. It is the first time Smyth has led going into the weekend since he won the Madrid Open three years ago 68 for 137, but Daly ballooned to an 89 after taking 51 shots to complete his outward half. The former USPGA champion and 1995 Open winner at St Andrews had only three pars on his card in the first 14 holes, and it took the combined efforts of Walton and their group's third man, Frank Nobilo, to persuade the American not to walk off the course at the 15th.

Daly became agitated when two mobile television film crews appeared to get a close up view of his erratic golf. "They were obviously after blood," said the New Zealander, "and John wanted to go in because he thought they would upset our golf."

Walton said. "His golf was very embarrassing for everyone, but it didn't disturb me until the 15th because he was never impolite or inconsiderate. He was trying on every shot, but he just wasn't switched on."

Daly's figures for the first nine holes read almost like a Dublin telephone number. His card read 4-6-5 9-4-7 5-6-5, and he had further sixes at the 12th and 14th before he got a grip on his haphazard long game.

He had left all his woods out of his bag, but lie was just as wayward with his famous zero iron, twice going out of bounds from the tee in taking nine at the fourth. By the sixth he was reduced to hitting five irons from the tee in an attempt to keep his ball in play.

Daly left the course in a fast ear with manager Bud Martin within minutes of signing his 18 over par card. He left behind a bemused promoter, Robbie Van Erven Dorens, and his Dutch benefactor, Harry Mens, a wealthy property developer.

Mens, who had paid Daly an appearance fee of 100,000 put on a brave face. "I could not have asked for a better performance," he said.

Smyth, whose total of 131 was 33 fewer than Daly's, commented. "Hilversum is a straight hitter's course and if you lose your never out there you can take millions.

There was no danger of the Drogheda professional becoming unhinged, despite the shock of three putts on the opening green when he charged his first effort 12 feet past. He was back on terms with the card at the ninth, then, after struggling to start back with three pars, everything suddenly clicked, and he regained the putting touch of the first day.

He holed from 15, 20 and 15 feet with his long putter for birdies at the 13th, 15th and 16th, and then capped an excellent afternoon's work with two solid shots to the par five 18th, and a deft chip and putt for his sixth birdie.

David Feherty also had early alarms on the greens, three putting the second and then missing short putts for pars at the sixth and seventh. But he played the last 11 holes in three under par and his 71 for a six under 136 put him one ahead of Walton.

The Malahide man had seven birdies which more than offset the strokes that got away at two short holes, and the 11th where he had a double bogey after twice being in the trees.

Darren Clarke was the only other Irish qualifier, his 70 leaving him at 139.

Padraig Harrington also had 70, but his level par return left him one outside the sub par cut off mark. Other casualties were David Higgins (74 for 145), Eamonn Darcy (74 for 147), and Francis Howley (76 for 151).