Golf – European Tour:Refreshed, reinvigorated and ready for what the weekend will throw at him, Shane Lowry goes into tomorrow's third round just one shot behind the unheralded Rick Kulacz. Lowry, on 11 under alongside Sergio Garcia and Peter Hanson, had been on course to take a lead into 'moving day' for the first time since he claimed the Irish Open as an amateur last May.
But a charge late in the day from Kulacz, who came home in just 30 blows, gave the Australian the outright lead in Abu Dhabi at the halfway stage today.
Martin Kaymer, a former winner and the runner-up this time last year, also features on a congested leaderboard at 10 under while Lowry’s close friend and former Irish amateur teammate Rory McIlroy is within striking distance a shot further back.
Having enjoyed a productive winter break, where valuable conditioning work was undertaken away from the course under the guidance of former Irish rugby international Eric Miller, Lowry is now starting to look right at home in the cut and thrust of the professional ranks.
The 22-year-old has yet to post a top 10 finish since that remarkable weekend at Co Louth. But a flawless performance ensured a bogey free round of 65 – he has dropped just one shot over the opening 36 holes – propelled him up the standings.
Having started out on the 10th with a cold putter – opportunities from within five feet were spurned at his first two holes – Lowry found his range on the 12th and followed that up with another birdie at the next.
With his iron play affording plenty of chances, Lowry rolled in three birdies in succession from the 18th before rounding off his day with a raking 50-foot putt on par-three seventh.
After his extended hiatus over Christmas, Lowry had expected a slow start to the new year and was pleasantly surprised to have found form so early in the season.
“I came into this week without too many expectations at the start of the week after a long winter break, but I managed to find some confidence at the start of the week and I played nicely over the last couple of days and I have managed to hole some putts,” Lowry told reporters.
“It is a little bit of a surprise to make such a good start, but I have just tried to play as well as I can and I haven’t made too many mistakes and I’ve only made one bogey in two rounds.”
McIlroy, for all his excellent iron play, could be forgiven for reflecting on what might have been after a number of missed birdie putts from inside six feet stymied his progress.
Nevertheless, with just three shots to make up, the 20-year-old Holywood star will fancy his chances of claiming a second European Tour title.
Garcia, who was effusive in his praise of McIroy after playing alongside him on yesterday, continues to be hampered by a wrist injury but followed up his first round 66 with a promising 67.
After picking up shots at three of his opening four holes, the Spaniard posted three other birdies with his solitary bogey coming at the fifth hole.
"My hand did hurt yesterday (Thursday) on my second shot at three but fortunately it was only at that moment and I was able to keep playing without really feeling anything," he explained.
"So that was very positive, and today it was pretty good. I didn't really have any problems with it.
“I have found a little bit of consistency throughout this week. Plus the warm weather is helping a little bit, too, and making sure the hands warm up quicker."
While Irish golf’s young guns were blazing a trail at the business end of the leaderboard, the likes of Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell struggled to keep in touch.
Clarke made the cut right on the number alongside Peter Lawrie on two under but McDowell (one under), Michael Hoey (level par), Gareth Maybin (six over) and Damien McGrane (eight over) will have the weekend off.