JEREZ (Spain), Nov 10: Ireland’s Paul McGinley, despite dropping a shot at the last, opened up a two-stroke lead after the weather-delayed second round in the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo Golf Club on Saturday.

McGinley, one of 20 players to complete their rounds when high winds led to a suspension in play late on Friday, carded a three-under-par 69 for a total of 135, nine under overall.

That left him two clear of overnight leader Mathias Gronberg of Sweden, who fired an impressive second-round 67 on Friday after being boosted by two eagles on his front nine.

McGinley was nine-under for the tournament overnight having holed a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-four 12th just before the players were called off the course on Friday.

He began with three straight pars in buffeting winds on Saturday morning before picking up another shot at the par-five 16th to get to 10-under, three ahead of the field.

But the Irishman, who won this year’s Wales Open at Celtic Manor after a playoff, then bogeyed the 433-yard 18th.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who returned a 71 on Saturday morning, moved into a share of third place on six-under 138 with Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who carded a 68 on Friday.

Germany’s Bernhard Langer, after completing a 70 on Saturday, joined Swedes Niclas Fasth and Robert Karlsson and Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal at five-under 139 in a tie for fifth place.

Leading second round scores (Britain unless stated):

135 — Paul McGinley (Ireland) 66, 69.

137 — Mathias Gronberg (Sweden) 70, 67.

138 — Darren Clarke 70, 68; Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 67, 71.

139 — Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 72, 67; Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 71, 68; Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 69, 70; Bernhard Langer (Germany) 69, 70.

140 — Colin Montgomerie 71, 69; Roger Wessels (South Africa) 70, 70; Gary Evans 69, 71.

141 — Steve Webster 70, 71; Dean Robertson 69, 72; Tony Johnstone (Zimbabwe) 69, 72; Nick O’Hern (Australia) 69, 72; Adam Scott (Australia) 67, 74.

142 — Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 73, 69; Greg Turner (New Zealand) 72, 70; David Lynn 71, 71; Charlie Wi (South Korea) 70, 72; Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 69, 73; David Howell 69, 73.

143 — Richard Green (Australia) 72, 71; Anthony Wall 72, 71; Phillip Price 70, 73; Anders Hansen (Denmark) 69, 74; Mark McNulty (Zimbabwe) 69, 74; Reteif Goosen (South Africa) 68, 75; Brian Davis 68, 75; Peter Lonard (Australia) 65, 78.—Reuters