Clarke up for the challenge as Lynn takes halfway lead

GOLF DIGEST: EUROPEAN TOUR: Darren Clarke is just two shots off the pace after a second round 69 as England's David Lynn shot an impressive 67 for a 12-under-par 130 on the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington East Course to lead the Joburg Open at the halfway stage.

That was one better than last week’s Africa Open winner Charl Schwartzel, who produced three birdies in his bogey-free 68.

Playing on the difficult East Course for their second rounds, Clarke and Jbe’ Kruger, and two from the West – Hendrik Buhrmann – who blazed around with a seven-under-par 64, and England’s Danny Willett share third place on 10-under-par 132.

The 41-year-old Clarke, whose opening 63 was his best round on the European Tour for a decade, was three under for his front nine and a likely challenger to Lynn’s position. But the Ulsterman could only come back in 36 and missed a straight-forward birdie putt at the last, but he is still well placed to challenge for a first win in two years.

A second lightning delay halted play for the day with 30 players yet to complete their rounds, so play resumes at 7am this morning, with the third round beginning at 9.20 local time.

Barry Lane had a chance of being alongside Clarke with two to play on the adjoining West course – the shorter and far easier of the two lay-outs used for the opening 36 holes – but then triple-bogeyed the 381-yard 17th.

Playing his 649th Tour event and at 49, attempting to become the circuit’s oldest-ever winner, Lane took two in a greenside bunker and then three-putted to fall seven adrift of Lynn.

Surprise first round leader Neil Schietekat, outside the world’s top 1,000, added only a 72 to his scintillating opening 62.

Defending champion Anders Hansen was on the same mark after finishing with a double bogey six on the West, and others to crash out included former British Open champion Paul Lawrie, last season’s Rookie of the Year Chris Wood and ex-Ryder Cup man David Howell.

Michael Hoey added a 69 to his first round 68 for 137 on the East course, while Gary Murphy and Niall Kearney lead the Irish on the West. Murphy shot 67, while Kearney added a 68 for 140 and Peter Lawrie is well off the pace on 145 after a 71.

US TOUR: Zach Johnson made a strong start to his Sony Open title defence in blustery conditions when birdies on two of the last three holes lifted him into a six-way tie for the lead in the opening round.

Johnson, who won last years title by two shots, fired a five-under-par 65 at Waialae Country Club to set the pace with fellow Americans Davis Love III, Ryan Palmer, John Merrick and PGA Tour rookie Troy Merritt, plus Australian Robert Allenby.

Masters champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina eagled the par-five 18th on the way to an adventurous 66 to lie one stroke off the lead with nine other players.

BRITISH OPEN QUALIFIER: Australians Kurt Barnes, Ewan Porter and Peter Senior have qualified for July's British Open at St Andrews after topping the leaderboard after yesterday's second round at Kingston Heath.

Barnes blazed an eight-under-par 64 to finish at 10 under to secure his first appearance at a major with overnight leader Porter two back after a 68 and Senior third at five under after a two under 70.

Senior claimed his 18th appearance at the Open and first since 2000 at St Andrews despite facing a nervous wait after bogeying the final hole but Aaron Townsend and Steve Jones failed to close the gap as the duo finished at three under par to miss out.