R2 CLUBHOUSE LEADERBOARD GB&Ire unless stated -14 R Jacquelin (Fra) -11 D Clarke, G Emerson -10 J-F Lima (Por) -9 I Garbutt, S Little -8 I Woosnam, G Storm, P Lawrie, D McGrane

Woosnam, without a European tour title for eight years, shot a second-round 65 to move to eight under par overall.

But the Ryder Cup captain still found himself six shots adrift of Jacquelin, who shot a second successive 64 to move to 14 under par.

Darren Clarke and Gary Emerson are his closest challengers on 11 under.

Clarke puts wife before Ryder Cup

Englishman Emerson matched Jacquelin's 64, while Clarke added a 67 to his opening 64.

Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima is a shot further adrift after a second straight 66, but the round of the day was a 60 by Spaniard Ivo Giner, catapulting him from four over par to seven under.

Seve Ballesteros, playing his first event for almost two years, improved on his initial 77 by four shots, but only avoided last place with a last-green birdie to finish eight over and miss the cut.

I've lost interest a bit lately, but hopefully this will gee me up Ian Woosnam

The Spanish legend does not plan to play again this season but is looking at tournaments in Asia early next year to continue his comeback.

Woosnam, 47, stands 100th on the money list and needs a good performance to avoid his worst Order of Merit finish since 1981.

He has missed the cut in seven of his last nine starts, but eight birdies - including three in a row to finish - lifted his spirits.

"I've lost interest a bit lately, but hopefully this will gee me up," he said.

"I've so much going on - Ryder Cup and building stuff in Jersey and in Barbados. But I came out here trying to enjoy it.

"I changed my grip. It seems a bit strange, but it seems to be working."

Colin Montgomerie, �90,000 clear of Michael Campbell as he closes on a record eighth Order of Merit crown, recovered from an opening 72 with a 66 to move up to four under.

"Every euro and every point is very important for Ryder Cup and Order of Merit," he said.

"Having reached number one I didn't want to start faffing about."