GOLF: DARREN CLARKE sank six birdies in a 67 to move into a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the KLM Open in The Netherlands yesterday.

The defending champion’s three-under-par 67 effort put him level with Swede Peter Hedblom (66) on eight-under-par 132.

First-round leaders Paul McGinley and Gary Orr both slipped back. McGinley had a 70 to remain six under and Orr’s 73 put him five behind.

No one has retained the title since American Bob Byman in 1978, but Clarke’s hopes are boosted by the fact that this is the same Kennemer course on which he won by four last year.

“It’s one of my favourite venues. It sets up well for me and it’s always nice to come back to a place where you’ve done well,” said the Ulsterman, who has not had a single top-10 finish since his victory 12 months ago.

After mixing three birdies with three bogeys on the front nine, Clarke, who like last year has his sons Tyrone and Conor with him, came home in 31 by picking up more strokes on the 10th, 12th and 15th.

Hedblom has not even had a top-20 finish this season, but he joined Clarke on eight under par with his second successive 66.

“When you’re struggling it’s nice to get away from everything,” said the 39-year-old. “I’ve just had a three-week break and for part of that I took my motor boat and stayed on an island near where I live.

“I’ve been playing for so long that you learn that you have to keep frustration away. Last year was my best season, so I know I have the game.”

They are a stroke ahead of England’s Kenneth Ferrie, Welshman Bradley Dredge, Dubliner Peter Lawrie, Swede Oskar Henningsson and Australian Wade Ormsby.

Just two shots off the pace is Shane Lowry, who showed the form that won him the Irish Open earlier in the year with a 68 for 134.

Lawrie was 10 under and clear leader with three to play, but hit a wild drive down the long seventh and lost it, then followed that bogey six with a double bogey on the 418-yard ninth. For that he drove left again, had to chip out and three-putted from only 15 feet.

“I played lovely apart from two bad shots,” the 35-year-old said after his 68. “But I’m only one behind and can’t really complain.”

Ferrie returned to Europe this year after losing his US Tour card and missed his first 11 halfway cuts, but was sixth at the French Open last month.

Henningsson, last November’s European Tour qualifying school winner, is seeking back-to-back victories after having two weeks off following his maiden triumph in the Czech Republic.

Former World Cup winner Dredge has had a double bogey in each of his first two rounds, but has also had an eagle and 10 birdies.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie improved nine strokes on his opening 76, but at three over crashed out by four.

Jose Maria Olazabal, battling rheumatic pains again, finished two over after a 72 and said: “I can’t put in the hours (of practice) that this game needs to be sharp. “I didn’t play well and my putting stroke is not there either.”

A course record of 63 was set by England’s Marcus Higley – it was his lowest round on Tour by three strokes – as he moved to six under and the score was then matched by Spain’s Alejandro Canizares as he improved from two over to five under.

Leaderboard

132 (8 under)

Peter Hedblom (Swe) 66 66

Darren Clarke (N Ire) 65 67

133 (7 under)

Wade Ormsby (Aus) 66 67

Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 67 66

Peter Lawrie (Ire) 65 68

Kenneth Ferrie (Eng) 66 67

Bradley Dredge (Wal)66 67

134 (6 under)

Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 67 67

Damien McGrane (Ire) 67 67

Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 69 65

Simon Dyson (Eng) 67 67

Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 70 64

Marcus Higley (Eng) 71 63

Paul Lawrie (Sco) 66 68

Shane Lowry (Ire) 66 68

Jamie Donaldson (Wal) 66 68

Paul McGinley (Ire) 64 70