Darcy just two off the pace

SENIORS TOUR: Eamonn Darcy is just two shots off the pace after the first round of the Seniors Tour Spanish Open in Valencia yesterday.

Darcy carded a five-under-par 67 to trail Gordon J Brand by two shots. Injury-plagued Greg Norman marked his first competitive start of the year in Europe with a round of three-under-par 69.

Brand, who was second to Norman in the 1986 Open Championship at Turnberry, leads on seven under following a bogey-free round of 65.

The Englishman is one stroke clear of compatriot Carl Mason, who is chasing his third consecutive victory on the European Seniors Tour, and two clear of Darcy, Canadian Bill Hardwick and Argentinian Luis Carbonetti in third place.

Jimmy Heggarty shot 71 with Eddie Polland and Denis O'Sullivan three back on 74 and John Curtis on 75.

ASIAN TOUR: South African Retief Goosen edged ahead of main rival Michael Campbell to take a three-stroke lead after the second round of the Volkswagen Masters-China.

The world number seven came home in 30, helped by an eagle at the par-five ninth - his final hole - to card a 65 for a 15-under-par total at the Yalong Bay Golf Club in Sanya.

New Zealander Campbell, the 2005 US Open champion, had an eagle three of his own at the 13th but his round of 68 left him 12 under.

Overnight leader Lu Wen-the, after an opening nine-under-par 63, shot a 69 to drop to joint second with Campbell.

Dubai-based Scotsman Ross Bain added a 67 to his opening 68 to move into a tie for fourth place on nine under with, among others, Englishman Yasir Ali.

Another Scot, Simon Dunn, is two shots further back after rounds of 68 and 69.

PGA TOUR: Todd Fischer and Tom Pernice both shot seven-under-par 65s to share the early lead in the second round of the Frys.com Open in California yesterday.

The pair on 12-under-par 131 lead by one from Troy Matteson, who also shot 65.

Out in 33, Fischer fired four birdies in five holes from the 13th for his 65, while Pernice added four birdies and a eagle in a back nine of 31.

LPGA: Sophie Gustafson edged two shots clear after nine holes of the second round of the Samsung World Championship at Bighorn GC, Palm Desert, California yesterday.

At three-under-par for the day and seven under overall Gustafson was two clear of Paula Creamer and World number one Annika Sorenstam.

Michelle Wie, still troubled with her driving, was level par after 16 holes and two over for the tournament.

PRO-AM: Tour player Damien McGrane and Curragh professional Gerry Burke closed down the local pro-am season at the PGA National yesterday with a share of the spoils after both posted a four-under-par 68.

This was a shotgun start event in aid of Junior Golf Ireland and the 3Ts organisation with the joint winners having a somewhat similar round, both covering the front nine in three-under-par 33 and carded 35 - one-under - for the back trek.

The winning four was a Dundalk team of assistant professional Brian Kerley and amateurs Dermot Murphy (6), Gerry O'Keefe (13) and Declan Muckian (18). They shared 91 points with Gerry Burke's team but took top spot with 48 points on the back nine.