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Jimenez in Ryder form

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup team member Miguel Angel Jimenez warmed up nicely for next week's showdown with the United States in Brookline…

Sat Sept 18 1999 - 01:00

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup team member Miguel Angel Jimenez warmed up nicely for next week's showdown with the United States in Brookline, Massachussetts by taking a three-shot lead after two rounds of the Lancome Trophy near Paris yesterday.

Jimenez shot a seven-under-par 64 to open up a three-stroke lead in his defence of the Trophy at St Nom-la-Breteche.

Another Ryder Cup rookie, Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin, emerged from a worrying mid-season slump with a 66 to move into a share of third place with Colin Montgomerie, New Zealander Michael Campbell and Spaniard, Santiago Luna.

But even though Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal also made his first halfway cut since breaking his hand in June, it was not all good news for Ryder Cup captain Mark James.

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Andrew Coltart, his controversial wild card choice, missed the halfway cut on his return from becoming a father for the first time.

And Montgomerie missed two tiny putts and then went into water on the final hole to lose top spot to 35-year-old Jimenez, who stands on the 10-under-par halfway total of 132.

Des Smyth added a 70 to his first round 69 to end up best of the Irish on 139, three under par, while while Paul McGinley's 69 left him on 141, one under par. Eamon Darcy's 70 could not save him from missing the cut as he finished on 149, and Philip Walton was two outside the qualifying mark on 145.

Jimenez, who served as Seve Ballesteros's right-hand man in the victory at Valderrama two years ago, hauled in eight birdies, four of them coming in the last seven holes, while Evans had no fewer than nine birdies - despite having to call for a doctor in midround with stomach problems. Tablets eased the problem and the 30-year-old former Walker Cup amateur - he played with Coltart and Padraig Harrington and against Duval and Phil Mickelson at Portmarnock in 1991 - goes into another weekend hoping for his first European tour victory at the 194th attempt.

"Coming away this week I was not fussed about playing. I fancied another week off. But my caddie gave me a rollicking and told me that as I was here I might as well relax a bit and try to enjoy it," he said.