Byrd grabs lead in Florida

Digest/US TOUR: Jonathan Byrd fired a second consecutive five-under-par 66 to grab the early clubhouse lead on day two of the…

Digest/US TOUR: Jonathan Byrd fired a second consecutive five-under-par 66 to grab the early clubhouse lead on day two of the Chrysler Championship at the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort, Palm Harbor, Florida.

That left him one shot clear of overnight leader Jeff Sluman who had shot a course-record nine-under-par 62 on Thursday.

Tommy Armour and Rod Pampling were on eight-under-par after second rounds of 64 and 65, respectively.

EISENHOWER TROPHY: Having travelled with genuine hopes of challenging for the title, Ireland saw their chances of collecting a first World Amateur Team championship disappear yesterday as they collapsed down the leaderboard in the second round in Puerto Rico.

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After finishing strongly on Thursday, the trio were hoping to make a move yesterday at the Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Grande, but not one managed to match par on the Ocean course at the Westin Rio Mar Resort in Rio Grande.

With two scores to count each day, the team of Seán McTernan from Co Sligo, Brian McElhinney from North West and Dunmurry's Darren Crowe were on one-over-par 289 and in joint 22nd position halfway through round two.

In contrast, the defending champions, the United States, had swept to 20-under-par for an almost unassailable eight-shot lead over second-placed Spain.

The US were led by some outstanding play by Walker Cup player Ryan Moore, who was 12-under-par for his card over the two days.

McTernan and McElhinney fired rounds of one-over-par 73, while Crowe was a shot further back.