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Lowry lies just one shot off the leaders

SICILIAN OPEN: SIX PLAYERS will go into the weekend tied for the lead at the Sicilian Open after an extremely tight second round…

Sat Mar 31 2012 - 01:00

SICILIAN OPEN:SIX PLAYERS will go into the weekend tied for the lead at the Sicilian Open after an extremely tight second round at the Verdura Golf Spa Resort.

David Lynn, Jamie Donaldson, Pelle Edberg, Maarten Lafeber, Simon Wakefield and the overnight leader, Ireland’s Peter Lawrie, all sit on eight under par, with another seven players one shot adrift.

Swede Edberg was the biggest mover yesterday morning, carding a six-under-par round of 66, but it was a disappointing day for Lawrie, who had posted a brilliant 64 on Thursday but had to settle for a level-par round. In contrast, Edberg managed six birdies and an eagle while Englishman Wakefield also impressed with a 67 and Holland’s Lafeber recorded a 68.

The sextet have only three European Tour titles between them courtesy of Lynn, Lafeber and Lawrie, who was most the recent champion in Spain in 2008. Wakefield said: “It was just one those days when everything went right. The company’s been great, the weather’s perfect and there aren’t many more scenic places like this to play. I’ve really enjoyed myself.”

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Lafeber, who had to go back to Qualifying School last year after finishing 149th in the Race to Dubai, picked out Welshman Donaldson, who would have led on his own had he not bogeyed his final hole, as the man to watch. “It’s looking pretty bunched. Jamie Donaldson is playing very well, and there’s some good players up there so it won’t be easy.

Among the players on seven under is Dane Soren Kjeldsen, who was one of the joint leaders for much of the day but bogeyed the 17th for a level-par round, while Ireland’s Shane Lowry is also one behind following a 70.

Former Open champion John Daly had picked up seven shots in 14 holes to move to eight under only to bogey the 16th and 18th and drop back into a 12-strong group on six under.

It was not such a good day for Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, who went into the tournament in 12th place in the Race to Dubai but missed the cut after a second successive 72.

Ireland’s Gareth Maybin lies five shots off the lead after a round of 73 to add to yesterday’s 68 while Gary Murphy, Paul McGinley and Simon Thornton failed to make the cut.