US TOUR:American Briny Baird birdied the last two holes to complete a three-under-par 69 and take the second-round lead at the New Orleans Classic in Arizona yesterday.
Baird, who was tied for second after an opening 67, sank a 20-foot putt at the last to stand on a total of eight-under-par 136, one stroke better than fellow American Jay Williamson and Australian Peter Lonard.
Lonard had surged into the lead, reaching 10-under-par after birdies at three of four holes from the turn, but bogeyed the 15th, 17th and 18th to complete a two-under 70.
Tied on six-under-par 138 were holder Nick Watney (67) and fellow American Tommy Armour III (68). South African Tim Clark, who began his round on the back nine, shot a hole-in-one on the 210-yard ninth to register a six-under 66 and join a group of nine players in the clubhouse at five-under-par 139.
Those players three shots off the pace included first-round leader Dean Wilson, who followed his opening 66 with a 73, and fellow Americans Marco Dawson (68) and Cameron Beckman (71), Chez Reavie (72), John Merrick (67) and Parker McLachlin (67), England's Brian Davis and New Zealand's Tim Wilkinson.
Pádraig Harrington added a two-under-par 70 to his opening 71 for a halfway total of three-under-par 141. Starting at the 10th, Harrington birdied three of his first four holes on his way to an outward nine of 34, while two birdies mixed with two bogeys saw him home in level-par 36.
EUROPEAN SENIORS:Martin Gray of Scotland shot a three-under-par 69 to take the lead after the first round of the inaugural Azores Senior Open at the Batalha Golf Course, in Sao Miguel.
Gray, who made five birdies and two bogeys in benign weather conditions, has three runner-up finishes to his name but is yet to record a win on the European Seniors Tour. Gray leads Chuck Milne by one shot after the American posted four birdies en route to a round of 70.
Eamonn Darcy and Denis O'Sullivan posted two-over-par 74s, while Jimmy Heggarty, who took eight at the first hole, carded a 78.
INTERPROVINCIALS: Victoria Bradshaw won her fourth interprovincial winner's medal yesterday as Ulster retained the Girls Under-18 title with a 8-0 win over Connacht in the final series of games at Bangor GC.
Munster finished second after beating Leinster 7-1.
DEVELOPMENT: Ireland defeated Scotland by seven matches to five to capture the Under-16 Four Nations Development Tournament title at The Royal Dublin Golf Club.
Wales defeated The Netherlands to finish runners-up with Scotland and The Netherlands filling third and fourth places, respectively.
CARDIGAN CUP: Ireland retained the Cardigan Cup when they held Wales to a 10-10 stalemate in the annual boys international at Cardigan yesterday.
Leading by a point overnight, Ireland lost the final singles session 4½-3½. Reeve Whitson was the most successful Irish player going through the two days unbeaten with two wins and one halved match.
