GOLF DIGEST

A round-up of other golf news.

Alfredsson one off the lead after course-record 63

LPGA TOUR:Sweden's Helen Alfredsson shot a course record nine-under-par 63 on day two of the Evian Masters in France to move into second place.

Last year's European Solheim Cup captain, Alfredsson carded birdies on half of the holes on the Evian Masters course - four on the front nine and five on the back - to finish the day on 135, one stroke behind the second-round leader, Angela Park of Brazil.

Park shot 68 for a 10-under-par total of 134.

A further five players were a shot further back in a share of third place, including the 2007 US Women's Open champion, Cristie Kerr, from the United States and her compatriot Juli Inkster, the 2003 Evian Masters champion.

The world number one, Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, who led by a stroke on seven under after the first round, shot 73 to lie in a share of eighth place on six under at the halfway stage of the tournament.

US TOUR:Billy Mayfair fired a six-birdie 67 to claim the early second-round lead in the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario on eight-under-par 134. Carlos Franco leads the chase on 135 after a 68 with Ken Duke, who eagled the last for a 66.

Mark Calcavecchia also shot 66 for 136 and a place in the top-10.

CHALLENGE TOUR:A flawless round of 70 saw John Mellor of England grab the lead on the second day of the SWALEC Wales Challenge.

After posting two birdies on his front nine at Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort in Cardiff, Wales, Mellor moved to four under par, one shot clear of Sweden's Joel Sjoholm and Scotland's Greig Hutcheon.

Sjoholm's round of 71 moved him to three under par, one shot clear of home favourite Rhys Davies, who equalled the course record and moved himself firmly into contention in a tie for fourth.

Davies's round of 67 was made all the more remarkable by the fact that he opened with a double bogey at the first hole.

But the youngster swiftly rallied with three consecutive birdies, and reeled off a further four to finish on two under par.

EUROPRO TOUR:Ricardo Santos won the Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour Oceanico Algarve Championship by one stroke from his fellow Portuguese pro Antonio Sobrinho.

Santos fired a final-round 69 for a total of 203, with Sobrinho shooting 70 for 204 after the pair started the final round tied for the lead.

Northern Ireland's Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge) finished in third spot at eight under for the tournament, posting 71 for the final round, with Barry Hume (Scotland), Noel Fox (Team Ireland - MMI) and Alan Murray (Greystones) tied in fourth spot at seven under.

Hume looked the most likely to challenge the Portuguese leaders after blasting birdie, birdie, eagle at the 10th, 11th and 12th to storm into contention at nine under, but he was unable to capitalise and dropped shots at the 16th and 18th. The trio pick up € 3,000 apiece, which cements Fox's place at the top of the Order of Merit and Murray's second spot behind his compatriot.

YOUNG MASTERS:Lisa Maguire moved into a share of second place after a second-round 71 in the European Young Masters in Chantilly, France, yesterday.

Maguire, on 145, trails Scotland's Carly Booth by just one shot with Spain's Anna Arrese also on 145 after a 72.

Lisa's twin, Leona, the only player to break par, moved into sixth place after a 70 for 148.

Paul Dunne shot 72 and Chris Selfridge 79 as Ireland moved into fourth place in the Nations Cup behind France, Norway and Spain.