Lowry and Harrington Share Second

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Shane Lowry signed for a seond round 70 on a difficult second day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Friday, adding to his opening 66 at Kingsbarns to finish eight under par in the pro-am event, one shot ahead of Scotland's Chris Doak, whose 67 at Kingsbarns was one of the best scores in wet and windy conditions.

A birdie on his final hole ensured Lowry edged ahead of the pack on a crowded leaderboard, with Padraig Harrington, Oliver Wilson and Raphaël Jacquelin all seven under par alongside Doak.

Stephen Gallacher, who made his Ryder Cup debut last week at Gleneagles, had also been seven under before a double bogey on the seventh at Kingsbarns, where European team-mates Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer and Victor Dubuisson were also in action.

McIlroy, partnered by his father Gerry and keen to make the cut in the team event so Gerry could play St Andrews on Sunday on his 55th birthday, started the day nine shots off the pace and dropped back to two over par with a bogey on the 14th.

However, the World Number One responded in style with a superb fairway-wood approach to the par five 16th and rolled in the eagle putt from 15 feet before making birdies on the 17th, first and third.

The 25 year old then drove the green on the short par four sixth to set up another birdie and move to four under par, just four behind Lowry and with a potential two more rounds at St Andrews to come.

McIlroy carded an opening 63 over the Old Course in the 2010 Open and has also finished second twice, third and eighth in five appearances in this event.

Raphaël Jacquelin finished with consecutive birdies to snatch the halfway lead at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The Frenchman, a four-time European Tour winner, carded a second round 70 at Kingsbarns to lie nine under par in the pro-am event also played over Carnoustie and The Old Course at St Andrews.

That was one ahead of Irish pair Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry and England’s overnight leader Oliver Wilson.

Wind and rain made scoring more difficult on Friday but Jacquelin birdied his final two holes to move into pole position for a fifth European Tour title.

“I’m pretty happy, especially the way I finished,” said Jacquelin, whose last title came at last year’s Open de España after a record-equalling nine-hole sudden-death play-off.

“I birdied 17 and 18, so it was good before having dinner and going to rest. 

“I didn't play that well, and not as well as yesterday, but it was not that easy, a bit of wind, a bit of rain, a bit of cold as well. 

“I feel good - it's a long weekend, a lot of golf to play, so the game of golf it's not that easy.”

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Galbraith Earns Galgorm Weekend

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John Ross Galbraith recently etched his name alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell when he won the Irish Amateur Close Championship and he made an instant impression on the professional scene, making the cut at the Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses.

The 20 year old Northern Irishman beat amateur veteran Pat Murray in the final of one of Ireland’s most prestigious amateur events at Seapoint Golf Club in June to join several of Irish golf’s Major winners, as well as players such as Paul McGinley, Shane Lowry and Ronan Rafferty, on the star-studded list of winners.

Galbraith is playing in his first professional event at Galgorm Castle, having been nominated by the Golfing Union of Ireland Ulster Branch as one of four of the region’s most promising amateurs, and he did not disappoint.

The Whitehead Golf Club player carded five birdies to sign for a one over par second round of 72 and finish the second day on level par overall, making the grade for the weekend in the process, and the promising young player was thrilled.

“I’m delighted,” said Galbraith. “My target was just to make the cut. I've been hitting the ball well, pretty straight, but I haven’t been putting great, just one now and again. But my game is in good shape so hopefully I can get the flat stick going and shoot a few low ones.

“It’s my first time playing a professional event so it’s always going to be different to an amateur event but the experience has been good so far, I've enjoyed every minute of it. I had a big crowd from Whitehead cheering me on so that always helps. 

“The wind is horrendous out there, the trickiest is the cross wind, because you need to start the ball 20 or 30 yards left or right to get it into the middle of the fairway. Even in the downwind holes it’s hard to get the distance right so it’s tricky all around.

“I can just relax now and whatever happens happens, whether I shoot millions over or millions under, it’ll happen.

“I was delighted to get picked by the Ulster Branch for this event, to be classed as the top four in Ulster is good for and I thank them for picking me because it’s great experience for me.

“The standard is unbelievable out here but it’s nothing I didn’t expect to be honest. I feel I could compete pretty well out here.”

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Three Irish Remain in BMW Race

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Shane Lowry signed for a round of 68 and Michael Hoey 69 to remain three shots off the pace set by the four joint leaders at the BMW International Open in Cologne on Friday.

Lowry carded five birdies with only the one bogey on the par four 10t with Hoey mixing a triple bogey seven on the first hole, and three bogeys to damage a nine birdie. 

Damien McGrane shot 71 to make the cut at four-under- par.

Gareth Maybin, Kevin Phelan, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie and Simon Thornton missed the cut.

Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Pablo Larrazabal were joined at the head of the leaderboard on 12-under- par by 2012 BMW International Open champions Danny Willett and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo.

Six players, including Miguel Angel Jimenez were on 10-under-par, and Hoey and Lowry finished in a group of eight sitting just three shots back on nine under.

Martin Kaymer missed the cut by four shots on level-par 142.

Fellow German Marcel Siem looked like he might also miss the cut until a final flourish where he birdied five of the last six holes to not only make the cut but also force his way into contention at eight-under-par with a 66.

Of the leaders, Larrazabal made the greatest gain with a nine under par 63 to reach 12-under 132, a 36 hole total matched by Grillo with a 66, and the two overnight leaders Cabrera-Bello and Willett who shot matching 68s.

Cabrera-Bello had the misfortune of a double-hit out of the rough on the par five seventh hole, his 16th, but 68 kept him on track.

Willett, who was playing alongside Cabrera-Bello, then had to avoid calamity of his own shortly after – as they closed on the ninth – when he horribly shanked his approach.

The Englishman was lucky to clear water away to his right as his ball nestled near the 18th green. He pitched back over the lake to scramble par and stay level with Cabrera-Bello.

"I'm pleased with my score but more pleased with the way I played. I felt I played really well today. I was a little unlucky coming down the last few holes but overall pleased with minus four," said Cabrera-Bello.

David Higgins was a withdrawal in round 2.

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Hoey Scents Chance in Cologne

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Michael Hoey signed for six under par, 66, in the opening round of the BMW International Open in Cologne, to remain two strokes behind the joint leaders, England’s Danny Willett and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello

Hoey carded six birdies on the first, third, fifth, 10th, 13th and 15th holes. 

Shane Lowry finished five under on 67 with eagle on the 13th and five birdies the highlights.

Kevin Phelan signed for a 68 including four birdies and level scores on the remaining holes.

Damien McGrane was a stroke further back after a round of 69. 

Gareth Maybin signed for a (71).

Paul McGinley rounded in 72 but along with Peter Lawrie on 73, David Higgins signing for 75 and Simon Thornton on 76 are on the wrong side of the projected cut line. All will need a good Friday to see weekend action.

Martin Kaymer’s return to action following the second major victory of his career gave his home crowd little to really cheer on the first day of the .

In perfect scoring conditions at Gut Larchenhof the German disappointingly found himself five shots off the early lead. Starting at the 10th, two birdies in three holes were quickly undone by a double bogey at the short 16th and another dropped shot at the 18th took him to the turn in one over.

Three successive birdies immediately got him back to two under but having hit his second into a greenside bunker at the 577-yard seventh he failed to get out of the trap from an awkward lie and bogeyed to finish one under.

Storm, by contrast, was bogey-free as, after reaching the turn at two under, he carded four birdies in five holes from the 11th to set the clubhouse lead at six under.

He was later joined by Hansen, who also did not drop a shot, Stal who got to seven under through 16 holes — including an eagle at the par-four ninth — before making his only bogey of the morning at the 17th, and Campillo.

Robert Karlsson, who started on the back nine, looked set for a low score after reaching the turn on five under but eight pars — interrupted by a dropped shot at the eighth — meant he finished the day two shots off the lead.

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GUI Name Fota Island Four

Four top amateurs get Irish Open invite with two former Irish Amateur Open champions included in the Golf Union of Ireland's [GUI] four man selection for the Irish Open at Fota Island on June 19th. 

Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan) and Gavin Moynihan (The Island) are joined by Gary Hurley (West Waterford) and Dermot McElroy (Ballymena).

The four amateurs are included in a field alongside Major champions and Irish favourites Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke and European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley

The 2009 winner Shane Lowry, who won in enthralling circumstances as an amateur at Baltray, is also included in the field.

Antonia Beggs, Championship Director said “The amateur game in Ireland has always been vibrant, thanks mainly to the commitment and endeavours of the Golfing Union of Ireland.

“We are delighted to welcome Robbie, Gavin, Gary and Dermot to join a world class field of professionals at Fota Island Resort. The experience they get from playing in the Irish Open will be invaluable as they progress in the game of golf.”

Albert Lee, Honorary Secretary of the GUI said: “Playing in the Irish Open is an important step in the development of these players and we acknowledge the support of the European Tour in allowing us nominate four amateurs to compete in what will be a fantastic display of golf at Fota Island.”

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Pinehurst Heartbreak for Padraig

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Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington will miss his first US Open for 15 years after failing to advance from a 36-hole qualifying event.

The Dubliner, whose best US Open finish is fourth in 2012, shot rounds of 75 and 71 at Walton Heath, leaving him six strokes short of qualification.

Fellow Irishman Shane Lowry topped the leaderboard in Surrey to secure his spot at Pinehurst next month.

Last month, Harrington also failed to qualify for the Masters for the first time in 14 years, his five-year qualifying exemption dating from his 2008 USPGA win having expired.

In February, the two-time Open winner and six-time Ryder Cup player revealed he had undergone treatment for skin cancer.

He has failed to achieve a win on either the European or PGA Tours since that 2008 USPGA triumph, slipping to 214th in the world rankings.

"I made a few mistakes in not knowing the golf course and I was never comfortable with the pace of the greens, as there was a number of three-putts thrown in there," said Harrington.

Ryder Cup-winning captain Jose Maria Olazabal, a two-time major winner, also missed out after finishing alongside Harrington with a two-over-par total of 146.

The US Open takes place from 12-15 June.

"The damage was done in the morning with that 75, and just made a few mistakes in not knowing the golf course, and I was never comfortable with the pace of the greens, as there was a number of three-putts thrown in there," he said.

Harrington will now take a week's break before returning to the PGA Tour for the June 5 start of the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis.

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Sunny Side-up for McGrane

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Damien McGrane carded a third round 70 to hold share of ninth place to remain five strokes behind the leader on -3 at the NH Collection Open at La Reserva in Sotogrande, Spain

Kevin Phelan heads into Sunday five behind McGrane after the European Tour rookie carded a round of 73 on Saturday.

Simon Thornton signed for a 75 and a share of 58th place ahead of the final 18 holes. 

David Higgins missed out on six-over after a 77 and Peter Lawrie was in a similar  predicament after carding +8.

Shane Lowry's 13-over aggregate for the opening 36 holes and saw his weekend stay in the Coast del Sol shortened.

Matthew Nixon leads by one-shot on eight under par going into the last round of the NH Collection Open after firing 65, the lowest score of the week.

Nixon, who before this tournament had made just one European Tour cut this year in finishing joint 27th at February’s Africa Open, holed a stunning nine birdies during a seven under total in Spain.

He dropped a shot at the par four second and the par five 11th, but otherwise was impressive on a much nicer day than the previous two.

“I really enjoyed it, the sun’s been shining and I played really nicely… I don’t remember much about it apart from the fact that I kept knocking them close and knocking the putts in,” he said. “If I could do that again tomorrow it would come in handy.

“Today the conditions are obviously a little better, but it was just one of them days. I had a nice start and it just kept going. Exactly the same day tomorrow would be nice!”

Nixon, never a European Tour winner and now into his fourth season, led by one shot from Italy’s Marco Crespi, who went round in six under. Although Crespi carded ten birdies, five consecutively from 13 to 17, he also hit four bogeys.

Crespi, twice a Challenge Tour victor, was one stroke clear of Chile’s Felipe Aguilar, who led midway through a round delayed to allow much of the field to complete their second round this morning.

Crespi said: “I am very happy because I played great all day long. Always in the middle of the fairway, hitting for the pin, just waiting for birdies - and finally they came, five in a row. And that’s it, that’s the way to make six under. I was patient; normally I am a very patient person.

“Tomorrow I am going to fight for the title, that’s for sure, and I am pretty confident because I am playing very good. The weather forecast is good and if it’s a day like this I think I can do well.”

Portugal’s Ricardo Santos was one behind Aguilar, in turn one ahead of a quartet on four under.

Aguilar said: “I played good from tee to green but not on the greens; I three-putted four times which is expensive. I don’t seem to get the right pace on long putts.

“The course is in excellent shape. As it dries out, the greens are becoming firmer and faster and even more challenging with the wind.”

Santos, who made five gains and no drops in his five under, said: “I played really solid today, amazingly, I didn’t miss a shot.

“I was very consistent off the tee, which is very important on this course and really solid into the greens. I putted quite well, not really well, but quite well.

“Today is warmer, with less wind but the course is still tough, specially the holes into the wind.

“The course is tough because we start with three very strong par fours and if you don’t start really well you are struggling. That’s probably the reason that we don’t have really low scores under the better conditions.”

In the group on four under is England’s David Horsey, one of three frontrunners following the second round along with Wales’ Bradley Dredge and Scotland’s Marc Warren.

While Horsey dropped one shot in his third round, Warren conceded three and Dredge six, the latter in part through two double bogeys in his first three holes.

Also on four under is Spain’s Adrian Otaegui, who led with Aguilar midway through the round.

Otaegui said: “It’s been a roller coaster round. I got a double (bogey) on the first after losing a ball, but came back with birdies on the second, seventh and eighth. I played nicely from tee to green.

“I made two bogeys on the back nine, missing two short putts but I played great shots into the greens and gave myself plenty of birdie chances. That’s all I need to remember.

“I expect lower scores tomorrow, as the course is in perfect condition and the wind is dropping.”

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