Vancsik edges into halfway lead

Madeira Open: Argentina's Daniel Vancsik leads Frenchman Christian Cevaer by one at the halfway stage of the Madeira Island Open.

The 30-year-old South American, who did not manage a single top-10 finish in his first full season on the circuit last year, reached 10 under par by adding a 66 to his opening 68.

Cevaer, whose only victory in more than 250 European Tour events came at the 2004 Spanish Open, was heading for a best-of-the-day 64 and a share of top spot until he finished with a bogey five.

In third place on eight under after a 67 is 44-year-old Spaniard Santiago Luna, playing the 520th event of his Tour career and his first of this year. Luna won the title - his only one - back in 1995.

A sprakling first nine of six-under-par 30 helped Gary Murphy to a second round 67 and a halfway total of three-under-par 141.

Murphy birdied his first three holes and then added three more at the sixth, seventh and ninth in an outward run of 30.

However, a disappointing double bogey six at the 11th spoiled a good card in a back-nine of 37.

David Higgins also made the cut after adding a second round 70 to his opening 74 for a level-par total of 144.

Peter Lawrie's troubles continued when a second-round 74 left him four shots outside the cut on 149.

First-round pacesetter Ricardo Santos fell back into the pack, while former Ryder Cup star Peter Baker could add only a 72 to his first-day 67 and so left himself five strokes to make up over the weekend.

Experienced South African David Frost, like Baker playing on a sponsor's invitation, shot 65 and is just three back, while one further adrift is American Notah Begay.

Defending champion Jean Van de Velde improved eight shots on his opening 75 to make the cut.

NATIONS CUP: Ireland take a three-shot lead into the final round of the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande today while Rory McIlroy is just one shot off the pace in the race for individual honours.

Ireland on a 649 total lead by three from Portugal, Denmrak and England with Norway four shots further back on 656.

McIlroy, meanwhile, added a third-round 70 for a total of 209 juts one off the lead held by Norway's Marius Thorp.