Golf:Ireland's Gareth Maybin and Peter Lawrie are just one shot off the lead at the halfway stage of the China Open. The pair are among a group of seven players at 12 under who trail Welshman Jamie Donaldson by a single stroke.
But while Lawrie and Maybin are at the business end of proceedings, Padraig Harrington will have an unscheduled weekend off after the Dubliner missed the cut at Chengdu.
With the cut falling at five under, Harrington could only add a one over 73 to yesterday’s 71 and finished on level par. Paul McGinley will also have the weekend off after finishing alongside Harrington.
Former world number two Sergio Garcia carded a second bogey-free round in a row to stay in the hunt for victory.
The Spaniard, whose last victory came at the 2009 European Tour's HSBC Champions in Shanghai, shot a 67 to complement his flawless 66 in the opening round and leave himself two shots behind Donaldson.
Garcia's brother Victor Junior is carrying his bag at the Luxehills International Country Club in the absence of the player's regular caddies.
"It's been good fun. He's doing a good job. We are just enjoying it out there and we are hoping we can keep doing the same thing," Garcia said. "It's been good for the first two days and hopefully we'll keep it going."
Donaldson fired a brilliant 11-under-par 61 for a total of 131. With preferred lies in play, the round did not break any records but he scorched the course with a flawless display including five birdies on the outward half and six coming home.
"That was a special one. I didn't do anything wrong today. It was a great round," Donaldson said.
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