SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD (GB & Ireland unless stated):
-15 Lowry (am) -13 R Rock, J Donaldson -12 Pa Lawrie -11 N Dougherty, R Kakko (Fin), T Levet (Fra) Selected others:-10 L Westwood, O Wilson -9 C Montgomerie -7 R McIlroy -6 G McDowell -5 D Clarke
 The 22-year-old Lowry has a handicap of plus five |
Irish amateur Shane Lowry shot 62 to take a two-shot lead at halfway in the Irish Open at Baltray. Lowry reached 15 under par on a damp day to hold off England's Robert Rock (65) and Welshman Jamie Donaldson (65). Paul Lawrie hit a hole-in-one in a 66 for fourth on 12 under, while Colin Montgomerie found form with a 65. Graeme McDowell fired a course-record 61 to improve on his first round by 16 shots but three-time major winner Padraig Harrington missed the cut. The County Louth course was shortened by 312 yards because of bad weather and Ryder Cup star McDowell's round of 11 under, which included 10 birdies and an eagle, kept him the right side of the cut after a first-round 77. "I was thinking 59 - it's tough not to," he said. "We had it extremely benign this afternoon, but going low is a special feeling. "To be second bottom after the first round was the worst day I've had, but I had a pint of Guinness and was world was OK again." He also beat Francesco Molinari's course record of 63 set the day before, but the Italian was disqualified on Friday after signing for an incorrect score on two holes. Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey was also disqualified for having more than 14 clubs in his bag.  | 606: DEBATE |
The 22-year-old Lowry, a plus-five handicapper in amateur events, carded nine birdies, an eagle and a bogey in his round to become only the second amateur to lead a European Tour event at halfway. It also matches the lowest round ever achieved by an amateur on the circuit, by German Sven Struver 20 years ago. "It's like a dream really - when do I wake up?" said Lowry, the son of a famous Gaelic footballer who is listed at 16th in the world amateur rankings. "This is as good as I can ask for and it's hard not to think about winning now, but I'm just going to go out and play as best I can." Ryder Cup captain Montgomerie, who has slipped to 176th in the world, edged into a tie for 12th on nine under. England's Nick Dougherty, Frenchman Thomas Levet and Finn Roope Kakko are in joint fifth on 11 under, while Ryder Cup team-mates Lee Westwood and Oliver Wilson are one further back. Ireland's Harrington missed the cut by a shot, while American John Daly, second in Italy last week, was also a casualty.
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