Calm links blown away

The smaller flags in the clubhouse area were fluttering weakly: there wasn't enough wind to unfurl the larger ones. So, with the help of European Tour officials, the 6,651-yard Old Course was rendered largely defenceless for the second round of the £1 million Murphy's Irish Open yesterday .

After Fredrik Jacobson had lowered the course record to 63, David Lynn had the second hole-in-one of the tournament at the 154-yard third. Then, Massimo Scarpa blitzed the first seven holes in the breathtaking total of only 20 strokes.

The Italian went on to birdie the long eighth, which meant that a further birdie at the 135-yard ninth would have beaten the all-time record of 27 for nine holes. However, a pulled pitching-wedge of 135 yards culminated in a bogey. It was one of the few battles the course had won.

Still, given that Scarpa started on the 10th, it meant another 63 to add to a 64 from second-placed Rolf Muntz. In fact, by late afternoon, scoring had reached such spectacular levels that proud locals were understandably stunned.

Patrik Sjoland seemed in no way perturbed, however, at adding a 65 to an opening 64 for the halfway lead on 129 - 13 under par. "The scoring is lower than I wanted," admitted tournament director David Probyn.

"If you hit a good putt, the chances were it would go into the hole, especially on greens where you could afford to be aggressive," said Sjoland. Small wonder Scarpa was crushed at having missed a chance of history.

"It didn't know what the record was, but I knew I was doing something special," he said. "I'm very disappointed."

When it was known that the weather would remain calm, why weren't the greens quickened for yesterday? "We try not to change the set-up of a course over the opening two days," replied Probyn, who promised tougher conditions at the weekend.

In the event, the cut of levelpar was higher than at certain previous Irish Opens. Indeed, as far back as 16 years ago at Royal Dublin, it was two under.

As it happens, that's the figure which 22-year-old Waterville amateur Mark Murphy carries through to the third round after a second successive 70. "I wanted to prove to myself that I could compete with the best professionals in Europe, which I'm doing," he said. Murphy has his sights set on a professional career. But he added: "I would first like to try and make next year's Walker Cup team."

Meanwhile, the vulnerable nature of the course was clearly welcomed by the holder, Sergio Garcia, who had slipped out of the picture at two under par for the tournament after a double-bogey at the short seventh.

From there, the 20-year-old cut loose to cover the remaining holes in six under par, finishing with three birdies. Down the long 17th, he chipped to 18 feet, sank the putt and had a two-putt birdie at the last, which he reached with a three-wood second shot.

"It was a strange day," he said with classic understatement. "Even in a wind I wouldn't have expected to have such a run of bad holes, never mind flat calm," he said. "Now I'm right back in it."

Indeed, it's remarkable the effect that benign conditions can have on a player's well-being. "I didn't like the course when I started my first round," said Jacobson.

And his reaction after breaking the course record? "I now like it more and more," he replied with refreshing candour.

Having been third in the Wales Open on June 11th and second at Slaley Hall last weekend, Jacobson is now looking at a decidedly interesting progression.

Rolf Muntz, the former British Amateur champion who made a European Tour breakthrough in the Qatar Open earlier this year, swept up the leaderboard with a six-birdie 64, which was also without a bogey. "This helps make up for Holland losing in the football," said the Dutchman afterwards.

Sjoland, whose lone tournament victory was in the Italian Open two years ago, took over the lead through his brilliant play of the last two holes.

Eleven under par for the tournament after 16 holes, he proceeded to hit a four-iron second shot of 230 yards onto the 17th green for a two-putt birdie.

Then, after finding heavy rough at the last, he played a

nine-iron recovery followed by a superb 225-yard third with an 18-degree driving iron which left the ball four feet from the pin.

As a footnote to an enthralling day's play, there was the decidedly curious experience of Peter Lonard. When about to start his round on the tee at the short 10th, the 32-year-old Australian dislodged a contact lens while rubbing his eyes .

"It would have been impossible for me to see without it, so I thought I'd be disqualified," he said afterwards. But with seven other pairs of eyes more than willing to help him find it, the errant lens was actually located six feet away by a spectator outside the ropes.

Restored to full vision Lonard proceeded to hit his tee shot to a foot for an opening birdie, followed by an eagle three at the 11th.