Bland shows sparkle

Water was needed desperately on the parched fairways of Royal Co Down, but unfortunately, mother nature's sprinkler system went somewhat out of control yesterday. So it was that a two-and-a-quarter-hour rain delay made it impossible to complete the second round of the £400,000 Senior British Open on schedule.

Indications are that with 60 and ties going through this morning to the third round, the cut will be made on 151 - nine over par. Which means that three-time former champion, Gary Player, will miss out by a stroke, along with contemporary, Christy O'Connor Snr.

It is also clear that South Africa's John Bland will lead at the halfway stage, having swept to seven under par after a sparkling 67. And in the still of evening, defending champion, Christy O'Connor Jnr, birdied the last three holes for a second successive day, this time for a 68 and second place on his own on five under.

Down the last, O'Connor was in the dip on the right of the green in two and proceeded to chip to three feet to set up a closing birdie. "I didn't want to let John (Bland) get too far away," said O'Connor of his playing partner. "I aim to get off to a good start tomorrow to close the gap."

Bland, who was runner-up to the Galwayman at Royal Portrush 12 months ago, built a hugely impressive round on a run of four threes from the seventh - par, birdie, birdie, par. In fact there were eight threes on his card.

At lunchtime, Australia's Ian Stanley was on the 18th green in regulation, needing two putts for a 67. Should he continue in the teeming rain? His playing partners thought he should. Three putts later, the hooter sounded a suspension of play and he was left to ponder his impetuosity.

Older golf enthusiasts here may remember Stanley's ill-fated challenge in the Irish Open at Woodbrook in 1975. While heading for the clubhouse lead after 54 holes, he carved two balls out of bounds on the notorious 18th to run up a wretched nine.

"I still remember every detail," said Stanley with a shrug, though he thought he had finished a lot higher than his eventual share of eighth place, seven strokes behind the winner, O'Connor Jnr. Clearly delighting in the fast-running conditions before the rains came, he added: "I learned to play the old bump and run shots with Kel Nagle."

Stanley's round was all the more creditable in view of the wretched start of three-putting the first two holes for bogeys. In fact, he was still two over par for the round after five, but proceeded to play the remaining 13 holes in five under.

Overnight leader Noel Ratcliffe was six under with six holes to play when the rains came. He then had problems locating his caddie on the resumption of play and the upshot was a miserable run of bogey, bogey, double-bogey from the 13th to the 16th to knock him down the leaderboard.

With O'Connor starting late, Kenny Stevenson headed the Irish challenge for most of the day after a second successive 70 for 140 - two under par. "This is my best halfway position since I turned professional four years ago," said the 1972 Irish Close champion.

The Warrenpoint player, who got in before the rains came, had the bonus of birdies at the opening two holes, after reaching the long first with a five-wood and then holing a 10-footer on the second. From then on, he avoided serious errors, using local knowledge to splendid effect.

Denis O'Sullivan, tied 20th in this event last year and now attached to the Old Head, shot 71 for 141. Like Stanley, he too suffered on the 18th where a wedge third shot from a hook-inducing lie, duly sent the ball left of the green, leading to a six.

"The change in conditions made it an even greater mental challenge than usual," said the Corkman of one of his favourite courses. "But the rain was needed. The game of chess is now less frightening."