PORTMARNOCK (Ireland), July 26: David Lynn overcame his usual mid-season lethargy on Friday to produce a sparkling seven-under-par 65 and take the lead after the second round of the Irish Open.
But New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, who shared 53rd place with Lynn at the British Open last week, hit a 69 to land a stroke behind the Briton in second place on nine-under-par 135.
Campbell’s two playing-partners, first round leader Thomas Bjorn and Irish favourite Padraig Harrington had less than peaceful days.
Bjorn, who looked to have recovered from his British Open disappointment when he hit a record 64 in the first round, slumped to 74 to share third place with Swede Robert Karlsson and Ireland’s Peter Lawrie, all three shots behind Campbell.
It was even worse for Harrington who missed the cut by a stroke. The Irishman, whose wife Caroline expects their first child in just over two weeks, said he may now take seven weeks off, so missing the US PGA Championship.
Englishman Lynn freely admits he normally suffers boredom with the European Tour at this time of year, even though the season still has 14 events to run.
Leading second round scores (British unless stated):
134 — David Lynn 69, 65.
135 — Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 66, 69.
138 — Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 64, 74; Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 69, 69; Peter Lawrie (Ireland) 70, 68.
139 — Gary Emerson 68, 71; Peter Lonard (Australia) 71, 68; Peter O’Malley (Australia) 70, 69; Greg Owen 68, 71.
140 — Klas Eriksson (Sweden) 72, 68; Jean-Francois Lucquin (France) 72, 68; Ben Mason 69, 71; Paul McGinley (Ireland) 74, 66.
141 — Paul Broadhurst 67, 74; Simon Dyson 69, 72; Stephen Gallacher 68, 73; Peter Hedblom (Sweden) 70, 71; Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 73, 68; Simon Khan 68, 73; Maarten Lafeber (Netherlands) 72, 69; Ian Poulter 70, 71.
JACOBSEN AHEAD
CROMWELL (Connecticut): Peter Jacobsen overcame consecutive bogeys on the back nine to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Greater Hartford Open as Suzy Whaley bowed out of the tournament at the halfway stage.
Jacobsen carded a three-under-par 67 on Friday to stand on 10-under 130 for the tournament.
Jay Haas, who had shared the first-round lead with Jacobsen, bogeyed the ninth — his last hole — to shoot a 68 and drop out of a tie for the top spot.
Whaley, a club pro who became the second woman after Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam to play in a PGA Tour event this season, shot an eight-over 78 and finished on 13-over 153.
Whaley finished ahead of three men in the field and missed the cut by eight strokes.
Darron Stiles shot a seven-under 63 to jump into a tie for third place with Paul Goydos and Willie Wood.
J.J. Henry, Craig Barlow, Brian Henninger and Robert Damron are another stroke back in a tie for sixth on 133.
Leading second round scores (US unless stated):
130 — Peter Jacobsen 63, 67.
131 — Jay Haas 63, 68.
132 — Darron Stiles 69, 63; Paul Goydos 67, 65; Willie Wood 66, 66.
133 — J.J. Henry 66, 67; Craig Barlow 65, 68; Brian Henninger 69, 64; Robert Damron 69, 64.
134 — Dennis Paulson 64, 70; Mike Heinen 67, 67; Rod Pampling (Australia) 70, 64; Kenny Perry 66, 68.
135 — Steve Pate 67, 68; Mark Brooks 67, 68; Tom Pernice Jr 70, 65; Joey Sindelar 68, 67; Heath Slocum 69, 66; Todd Fischer 66, 69.
136 — Kevin Sutherland 68, 68.
Other international players:
137 — Per-Ulrik Johansson (Sweden) 69, 68; Akio Sadakata (Japan) 68, 69; Gavin Coles (Australia) 70, 67.
138 — Matthew Goggin (Australia) 67, 71; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 66, 72.
139 — Brenden Pappas (Australia) 71, 68; Hidemichi Tanaka (Japan) 72, 67; Deane Pappas (South Africa) 69, 70; Glen Hnatiuk (Canada) 70, 69; Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 67, 72; Richard Johnson (Sweden) 69, 70; Steve Allan (Australia) 71, 68.
140 — John Morgan (Britain) 69, 71; Paul Gow (Australia) 71, 69.
141 — David Smail (New Zealand) 72, 69; Kenichi Kobuya (Japan) 71, 70; Grant Waite (New Zealand) 68, 73; Scott Laycock (Australia) 72, 69.
142 — Greg Chalmers (Australia) 70, 72.
143 — David Frost (South Africa) 75, 68; Esteban Toledo (Mexico) 70, 73; John Senden (Australia) 69, 74.
145 — Kaname Yokoo (Japan) 72, 73; Wilfredo Morales (Puerto Rico) 74, 71.
152 — Anthony Painter (Australia) 76, 76.
153 — James McLean (Australia) 74, 79.
155 — Gabriel Hjertstedt (Sweden) 77, 78.—Reuters