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Bradley Dredge leads in Munich as Ernie Els misses cut

BMW International, second round leaderboard:
-13 B Dredge (Wal) -12 P Larrazabal (Spa) -11 I Garrido (Spa), P Whiteford (Sco) -10 A Canete (Arg), M Brier (Aut), Pa Lawrie (Sco), S Thornton (Ire), C Nirat (Tha), K Ferrie (Eng) Selected others: -9 R Fisher (Eng) -6 C Montgomerie (Sco), P Casey (Eng) -5 B Langer (Ger) Missed cut:-2 E Els (SA) +6 N Faldo (Eng) +9 S Garcia (Spa)


Bradley Dredge
Dredge won the 2003 Madeira Island Open and the 2006 European Masters

Bradley Dredge posted a second-round 67 for a one-shot lead at the halfway mark of the BMW International in Munich.

The 36-year-old Welshman had two eagles to reach 13 under, with Pablo Larrazabal second after a second 66.

But world number six Ernie Els, third at last week's US Open, was two under and missed the cut by a stroke.

Sergio Garcia also crashed out after finishing nine over but Paul Casey and veteran Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie are in touch at six under.

Former world number two Garcia wore the colours of the Spanish World Cup football team but rounds of 77 and 76 saw him miss back-to-back cuts on European soil for the first time as a professional and only two players were below him.

"That's the way it is - I can't do anything about it," said the 30-year-old Spaniard, who has already dropped to 36th in the rankings.

Ernie Els
Els found some awkward spots in his second round 72

It was Garcia's 's worst 36-hole finish in Europe since the infamous 1999 Open at Carnoustie when he was 30 over.

Els found the lake at the 11th for the second day in succession but unlike on Thursday could not salvage par and took six, dropping shots at the 14th and 16th as well.

The 40-year-old South African needed to eagle the last to qualify for the final two rounds but narrowly failed to do so and finished with a round of 72.

"I just ran out of steam I think," said Els.

By contrast Dredge, who shared the first day lead after an opening 64, made the most of the par fives.

The Welshman hit his second to 12 feet at the 11th and holing from 45 feet at the sixth.

"I think that's got to be a first for me - three eagles in the first two rounds," said Dredge, who is 29th in the Ryder Cup race with two more months of qualifying time remaining and has not given up hope of playing in his native Wales against the United States in October.

"I've got four big tournaments coming up, so things can change very quickly.

"Now is the time to do it. It's still mathematically possible and I'll be trying until it's not."

Scotsman Peter Whiteford, the joint overnight leader with Dredge, had an eventful round of 69 but birdied the last three holes to move into a share of third place with Spaniard Ignacio Garrido two shots off the pace.

606: DEBATE
Golfrage

In a group of six players at 10 under is another Scot, 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie, in his first event since taking eight putts in one hole at the Wales Open.

"You've got to put these things behind you - I'm not a bitter person," said Aberdeen golfer Lawrie. "I've never putted off a green before, so twice in one hole is incredible.

"It was just one of those bizarre, stupid things."

The 41-year-old dropped only one shot in the first two rounds, at the 17th on day one.

There were contrasting fortunes for two former Ryder Cup captains - Bernhard Langer qualified with ease after a 69 left him at five under but Sir Nick Faldo, in his first tournament since last July's Open, had five bogeys in a 74 and finished six over.



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